This recipe makes approx 3l of tomato soup.
Ingredients:
2lb fresh tomatoes
1 tin of value chopped plum tomatoes
1 jar passata
1 large onion (diced)
1 cup of plain flour
2oz butter
Milk (whole or skimmed)
Double cream
2 to 3 tbs soft brown sugar (depending on bitterness of tomatoes)
1 tbs salt (or add to taste)
1 pint of vegetable stock
Method:
Put the fresh tomatoes into a saucepan with water and boil for around 5 mins until the skins start to split and fall off. Drain and allow to cool while you make the base for your soup.
In a large cooking pot on a medium heat, add the butter and flour and melt/mix together until you form a thick paste. Then, a bit at a time start adding the milk and take a whisk and beat vigourously making sure it's lump free continuing to add milk whilst whisking until you get a consistancy like mayonaise. Remove from the heat and set aside. You have just made a 'roux',which is a base for a lot of soups and sauces.
Now go back and take your fresh tomatoes and destalk and deskin them and throw them into a blender with your tin of chopped tomatoes. Whizz until smooth. In a small pan, add your pint of veg stock and onions and simmer until they have softened right down, then add them along with the stock to your roux mixture.
Now take your blitzed tomatoes and your jar of passata and add to the pot along with the brown sugar and salt. Bring to a simmer and mix well. Now add the double cream at bit at a time. I usually whisk mine up first to get it nice and thick but I don't really know if this matters. I add according to the desired colour and try to get it as close to Heinz tomato soup colour so add a bit at a time until you feel it's the right colour.
Now check the thickness and if needed you can always add a little more flour or thickening granuelles and simmer through for 5 to 10 more minutes. When done, add your soup back to the blender for one last blitz to get those onions and other ingredients well and truly whizzed down. You may have to do this in 2 stages as a normal blender won't be big enough to hold all of the finished product. When done, transfer to a large food safe plastic container. Old ice cream tubs are ideal.
Hopefully you should have something that resembles cream of tomato soup just like you get in a tin. Total cost is less than £4 for 3 litres.
Please give it a try and let me know how you get on. Enjoy!