Tomato And Courgette Soup [1]

This simple Spanish inspired soup, made with fresh ripe vine tomatoes and courgettes, is light and summery but absolutely full of flavour.

6 large ripe vine tomatoes

2 onions

1 stick of celery

1 large red chilli

2 cloves of garlic

3-4 courgettes [about 700g]

15g butter

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 heaped tablespoon of tomato puree

1 teaspoon of paprika

1.4 litres of good chicken stock

Salt and black pepper

Low fat creme fraiche

A handful of fresh parsley

Servings

Person

1

Score the tomatoes, cover briefly with boiling water, drain and then peel off the skins and roughly chop the flesh.
2

Prepare the vegetables; Peel and chop the onions, finely slice the celery, peel and finely chop the garlic, deseed and chop the chilli and then wipe, quarter lengthways and chop the courgettes.
3

Melt the butter with the olive oil in a large saucepan and saute the onion over a low heat for 3 minutes until soft. Add the prepared celery, garlic and chilli and cook gently for a further 2-3 minutes.
4

Add the chopped vine tomatoes, turn the heat down very low and saute with a lid on the pan, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes.
5

Put in the chopped courgette and cook gently for another 10 minutes.
6

Stir in the tomato puree and the paprika, add the hot chicken stock and simmer gently for a further 20 minutes.
7

Blend the soup until smooth and, just before serving, stir in well 3 heaped tablespoons of low fat creme fraiche. Garnish with finely chopped parsley and top each bowl with an extra dollop of creme fraiche.