Tomato Bisque (v)

Ingredients

• 2 lb ripe tomatoes or 2 28-oz cans San Marzano tomatoes
• 1 medium onion, sliced thin
• 1 tbs butter
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 heaping tbs brown sugar
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp finely chopped fresh basil
• 1 pint light cream
• 1 C milk
• 6 large croutons
• 2 tbs chopped chives

Directions

1. Skin and seed the tomatoes.
2. Sauté onion in butter and add the tomatoes, chopped.
3. Add bay leaf, sugar, cloves, salt, pepper, and basil. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are thoroughly cooked - about 25 minutes.
4. Remove bay leaf and cloves and transfer mixture to blender to purée or strain through coarse sieve.
5. Add cream and milk and heat through. Serve topped with toasted buttered croutons, and sprinkle with chopped chives.

Chef's Notes

• This is a vegetarian recipe, and vegan if the cream is omitted