Nordstrom's Cafe Tomato Basil Soup

Brrrr....it sure is a cold day today here in northern Virginia!  Perfect day for soup though :)
This is my favorite tomato soup.  I love the simplicity of the recipe, the creaminess and the slight sweetness (thanks to the carrots)...YUM!!


The recipe comes from Nordsrtom's Cafe (via Serious Eats), which is our favorite place to grab a bite when we go to the mall.  Nordstrom's serve this and most of it's soups with a cheese crostini but I topped my with some homemade croutons.

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons olive oil
4 large carrots, peeled and diced
1 large onion, sliced
1 tablespoon dried basil, crushed
3 28-ounce cans whole peeled Roma tomatoes
1 quart chicken broth
1 pint heavy cream
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
In a large, heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add carrots and onion and cook until beginning to soften, 10 minutes, then add basil and cook until vegetables are completely soft, about 5 minutes more.

Add tomatoes and broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20-30 minutes, or up to 45 minutes if time permits.

After allowing soup to cool somewhat, purée in a blender or food processor until smooth, doing so in batches if necessary. For a much silkier texture, strain the purée before returning to the pot. Stir in cream little by little over over low heat, until desired texture is reached and soup is just heated through. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve warm.

Source: Serious Eats