Tomato-Basil Soup + Grilled Cheese

Method

1. 1

   Roughly chop 1 kg tomatoes, 1 onion, 1 carrot and 8 garlic. Add to a pot with 4 cups water, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp peppercorns and salt.

2. 2

   Boil 15 mins till everything is soft. Cool slightly.

3. 3

   Discard bay leaf; blend smooth and strain through a sieve.

4. 4

   Return to pot. Add 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp red chili powder, salt, a handful of torn basil and 2 tbsp cream.

5. 5

   Simmer 5 mins; finish with crushed black pepper and more basil.

6. 6

   Grilled cheese: butter 8 bread slices, sandwich with grated cheese and a basil leaf, grill on tawa pressing down till golden and melty. Serve with the soup.

Adapted from Dassana's Veg – Tomato Basil Soup