Soup is quintessential comfort food for so many people. Even so, it's fun to play around with the flavors and see what you can create. Take tomato soup for instance: we often add herbs to spice it up, but have you ever considered making tomato green tea soup? I certainly hadn't, until today!
Choosing the Right Green Tea
In choosing a tea to add to my tomato soup, I wanted to find something that would complement and enhance the soup, but not overpower the tomato. I had some Hope Blend Jasmine green tea on hand so I decided to give it a go.
Now, you might be thinking (as I was) that the strong floral flavor of the jasmine would be at best a strange companion for the tomato and, at worst, a floral overload. Believe it or not, the Hope Blend Jasmine green tea was a perfect addition to transform my tomato soup into green tea soup!
Admittedly, the first flavor you smell is the jasmine, but the tomato and seasonings lead the way in taste while each bite finishes with an undercurrent of jasmine and earthy green tea. I didn't know that simple tomato soup could be so complex!
How to Make Green Tea Soup
Like many a movie protagonist has said, we can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way. You can either dump your tomato soup out of a can or carton, or you can start with actual tomatoes. The flavor profile of freshly cooked or roasted tomatoes is so delicious and the end result is so much healthier for you than the canned version.
That being said, if you love canned tomato soup or just want to keep things super simple like I do, you can still have a delicious dish in a matter of minutes.
First, find a pre-made tomato soup concentrate such as Campbell's tomato soup. Make the can according to the directions, but add steeped green tea instead of plain water. Add seasonings of your choice and simmer until you're ready to eat. You can jazz it up even more by adding in fresh tomatoes and simmering them in the soup until they're soft enough to blend.
Seasoning Your Green Tea Soup
Tomato is one of those interesting fruits that can get along well with many different herbs. Basil is a common addition to tomato soup, but I wanted to try something different. Because of the green tea, I chose to add a small amount of ginger, some thyme, and some salt and pepper to my soup.
All of these flavors helped to create an interesting aroma, but I didn't add so much of any of them that they detracted from the tomato and the tea. Overall, it tasted like complex tomato soup with hints of herbs and jasmine. Basically a garden in a bowl!
You could also try basil and oregano, ginger and turmeric, or rosemary and thyme. Regardless of which additional seasonings you add, be sure to add a pinch of salt and pepper as well.
Pairings
Tea: Comfort Blend Decaf black tea
Side: Savory Cheddar Scallion Scones
Main: Fancy Grilled Cheese Ideas for Grownup People
Dessert: Chai Chocolate Chip Cookies
Green Tea Soup
Ingredients:
- 10 Roma tomatoes (or 1 can tomato soup)
- 1 teaspoon Hope Blend jasmine green tea
- 10 ounces water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (omit if using condensed soup)
- 3 minced cloves garlic (omit if using condensed soup)
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme (dried)
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Milk or milk substitute to taste
Directions:
Cut Roma tomatoes in half and place them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with olive oil and minced garlic. Roast at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour. (Omit if using a can of condensed tomato soup).
Heat water to 175 degrees (or just before the water starts to simmer). Steep one heaping teaspoon of tea in the hot water for four minutes, then strain.
Combine either roasted tomatoes or one can of tomato soup and steeped green tea into the same pot. Be sure green tea just covers roasted tomatoes if used.
Add all seasonings and milk or milk substitute and stir. Add more to suit your taste.
Simmer or heat on low to blend flavors. Use an immersion blender or countertop blender if needed.
Enjoy!
