Those of you celebrating Galentine's Day and proclaiming love sucks, I'm going to need you to look away for this one.
Yes, this tomato soup is the color of your bleeding heart. And yes, that is an adorable little heart-shaped nubbin of goat cheese. I just couldn't help myself. It's really more about my love of goat cheese and all goat products than anything else. Don't think of it as me celebrating Cupid's Day, but more as my expression of my love for the epic duo that is creamy, melty cheese on top of tomato soup. Also, I love goats. This just went downhill fast, huh?
Tomato fennel soup with goat cheese. That is why we are here today.
So, I have a new grocery store in town. While many women get excited about a new mall or a new movie with Ryan Gosling, I'm over here gushing about nice grocery stores. I didn't think I would cheat on Joe (Trader Joe, that is), but I am loving a store called Lucky's. Their salad bar had a vat of tomato-fennel soup, and I was like a moth to a flame to it. It was a cold day, I was too weak from hunger to cook, and so I scooped $25 worth of soup into a cup smaller than the short cup at Starbucks. Kidding. But the moment I tasted it, I knew I could make it at home.
It's an easy base of onion, fennel bulb, a healthy glug of wine (I used Entwine's Chardonnay because it entwines well with goat cheese, grilled cheese, and hanging out with friends).
I used goat cheese for the hearts because I love goats. I think we covered this.
This soup makes two generous bowls of soup, one for you and one for your Valentine. If your'e into that sort of thing. I'm into goats.
I'm done.
Tomato Fennel Soup (with Goat Cheese Hearts)
Tomato fennel soup.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion
- 1 small fennel bulb
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup Entwine Chardonnay (non-sweet white wine)
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 2 ounces goat cheese log
Instructions
- In a medium sauce pot, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Meanwhile, chop the onion and dice the fennel. With fennel, you only want to use the white bulb part, not the green stalks--save them for stock. Also, reserve some of the fennel fronds for rolling the goat cheese in later.
- Add the chopped onion and fennel to the pan, and saute until soft, about 7-8 minutes.
- Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Next, add the wine, and cook until reduced by half.
- Next, stir in the crushed tomatoes, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Puree the soup using an immersion blender (be careful of splatters), or using a blender (be sure to vent the lid to prevent burns!).
- Meanwhile, slice the goat cheese into 1" thick coins. Slice a v-shape to make a heart, and use your fingers to pat the heart together, as needed.
- Roll the edges of the heart in the reserved fennel fronds, and garnish each bowl of soup with one heart.
Notes
Make sure to use a dry (not sweet) white wine.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 378Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 1425mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 10gSugar: 22gProtein: 13g
Julid says
This soup recipe is just what I needed for this brisk weather!
Sandra says
Absolutely delish! Yummy - can't wait to try it! :-)
Leila says
I love the new layout!
Arthur in the Garden! says
Perfect!
Taylor says
This is so adorable, and I am 100% with you on goat cheese, LOVE
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says
Love this soup! And the goat cheese hearts, especially. Because of goats, obviously. ;)
Alexa [fooduzzi.com] says
Oh, HELLO. This soup sounds insanely delicious - fennel is one of my all-time favorite veggies. I never thought of throwing it into a soup! And those goat cheese hearts...stahp. So dang adorable.
Becky | The Cookie Rookie says
This is STUNNING! Those goat cheese hearts though!!! <3
Andrea says
Amazing! Love this recipe! Made it last week for Valentines Day and it will now be a staple in my home. Easy, delicious, and healthy!