Creamy Tomato Soup with Basil Coulis on BakeSpace.com

Ingredients

• Creamy Tomato Soup with Basil Coulis
• by Fine Cooking magazine
• Serves six. Yields about 6-1/2 cups.
• For the basil coulis:
• 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves
• 1 clove garlic, crushed and peeled; more to taste
• Sea salt or kosher salt
• 1/4 cup fruity extra-virgin olive oil, plus 2 Tbs. more if needed
• For the soup:
• 3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
• One-half red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 3 cups lower-salt chicken broth
• 28-oz. can whole peeled plum tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped (reserve the juice)
• 1 large sprig fresh thyme
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper