Carrot and roasted tomato soup seasoned with ginger

So, it's that time of the year when there's tons and tons of delicious tomatoes and you certainly don't want them to go to waste.  Tomatoes are my favorite soup base (partly because I'm vegetarian and don't use meat bases the way my husband does) and they make for a very flavorful hearty soup.   In this recipe, however, the tomatoes are not used a base, but rather as one of the main additions.  This soup is really good, and it's hard to mess it up.  Roasting the veggies before putting the soup together really does make a big differece.  It's delicious!

Carrot and roasted tomato soup seasoned with ginger



8 roma tomatoes cut into medium pieces (other tomato variaties would also work. I've use grape and cherry tomatoes instead)

4 carrots chopped

1-2 tablespoons of olive oil

1/2 small onion, diced

1 stalk of celery, diced

A piece of fresh ginger (about the size of two grapes), minced

1 clove of garlic, minced

2 1/2cups chicken or vegetable stock (I used 2 bouillion cubes in 2 1/2 cups water)



1. Preheat the oven to 375F. Use a little olive oil to coat the carrots and tomatoes and add spices if you'd like (italian seasoning, or simply salt and pepper).  Lay them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and put them in the oven for about 30 minutes.  Try to mix it up at least once while they're baking. 
2.Put a small amount of olive oil in a pot and add the onion and celery. Cook at medium-high for 5 minutes stirring regularly. Add the garlic and the ginger and then add the roasted veggies (and whatever juices came out of them while they were roasting). Keep cooking for 10 more minutes and be sure to stir. Add in the vegetable stock and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the carrots are soft.

At this point, you can either eat the soup if you want a chunky vegetable soup, or you can put it through a blender (once it has cooled) for a smoother creamy type of soup.  It's tasty either way, but I prefer it chunky.  Also, add in more spices if it needs it. 

Enjoy!