Passover Recipe: Fire Roasted Tomato Soup with Cheddar Matzah Crisps

 

Jennifer Stempel of TheCubanReuben.com brings us her special take on the classic grilled cheese and tomato soup combo: fire-roasted tomato soup with a side of crunchy, cheddar matzah-crisps.

I’m someone who takes her soup seriously, and no canned version will do. When I’m in the mood for soup, I want the hearty, stick-to-your-ribs kind that can only be prepared in a home kitchen.

These days, I’m favoring fire-roasted tomato soup, with its slight smokiness and sweet tomato flavor, kissed with basil and oregano. While I’d usually indulge in a gooey grilled cheese to dunk in my soup, during Passover, I reach for my favorite stand-in--cheddar matzah crisps. Crunchy, toasted bites of matzah, coated with sharp cheddar shreds are the perfect accompaniment to this classic staple. Together they make a great lunch during the long Passover stretch.

Fire Roasted Tomato Soup with Cheddar Matzah Crisps

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small sweet onion, diced
2 whole carrots, diced
1½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 14.5 oz. cans of diced fire-roasted tomatoes
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons of cream cheese
Splash of milk
Fresh basil for garnish
 
½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1-2 pieces of matzah

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a soup pot, sauté onions and carrots in olive oil over medium heat, until onions become translucent and carrots soften. Add Italian seasoning, fire-roasted tomatoes (including liquid from can), and fresh oregano.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Let simmer for 15 minutes.

Stir in the cream cheese and splash of milk, and let the cheese dissolve.

Use an immersion blender (or very carefully pour your liquid into a regular blender), to blend the soup to your desired consistency.

Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh basil.
 
While the soup simmers, sprinkle cheese onto matzahs and bake in the oven for 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese melts.

Break matzah into large pieces, and serve with soup.