INGREDIENTS:
One large sweet
yellow onion,
diced and
minced
5 cloves of
garlic, peeled
3 large cans, diced
roma tomatoes (preferably
Cento Chef's Cut roma tomatoes)
3 large cans, whole peeled roma tomatoes (preferably Cento roma tomatoes)
One tube, roma
tomato paste
30 oz. tomato
purée
One box: Pacific
Organic Vegetable
Broth
Two bunches of
celery, sliced at varying degrees of thickness
Cayenne powder
Crushed red pepper
Sea salt
Dried
oregano
Dried
rosemary
Freshly ground
black pepper
Extra virgin olive oil
One stick butter
Two wedges of
parmigiano reggiano cheese
10 large leaves, fresh
basil (shredded by hand)
3 sprigs fresh oregano
3 sprigs fresh thyme
PREPARATION:
1. Heavily coat the bottom of a large stockpot with extra virgin olive
oil, and add the stick of butter.
2. Add the diced yellow onion and set the heat to medium high,
stirring frequently.
3. Once the onion has become translucent and the butter has fully
melted (approximateily 10 min), add the celery. Stir thoroughly, and
allow to continue cooking at medium-high for another 10 minutes. You
may need to add a little more olive oil (around two splashes)
4. Add a pinch of cayenne powder, and dried oregano, rosemary, and
crushed red pepper to taste.
5. Add the diced and whole tomatoes, stir thoroughly. Cook, stirring
occasionally, until mixture begins to boil (5-10 min)
6. Add the tomato paste and purée. Stir thoroughly.
7. Add the peeled garlic.
8. Add the entire box of vegetable broth, and 6 cups of water.9. Salt lightly and add a little freshly ground black pepper, continue
salting to taste
10. Turn burner to high and allow the entire mixture to reach a slow boil.
11. Once it has reached a boil, reduce heat to LOW and simmer for 2 hours.
12. While simmering, grate and add the wedge of parmigiano reggiano.
Sprinkle the grated cheese on top of the soup. Use the stirring spoon
to cover the cheese with soup and stir thoroughly. This procedure
prevents the cheese caking onto the spoon.
13. Allow to cool and serve with grated parmigiano reggiano on the side.
Optional:
Separately cook a box of orecchiette pasta. Do not include in the soup
itself, as the pasta will absorb water and become bloated. Add pasta
into bowls while serving.
ENJOY!