WARMING UP TO SOUP…TOMATO & ZUCCHINI with BAKED HERBED CROUTONS
Just when we thought that winter was finally on it’s way out, it snowed in the hills up North, & the temperatures here in the plains plummeted. Shiver me timbers…brrrrrrrr…so back it was to slurping hot soup & being bundled into duvets again! 
The daughter will NOT touch soup in any avatar, but the son loves a hearty tomato soup & I make it often. This time I tried a different one because I had zucchini & wondered how the zucchini would feel to share space with tomatoes! Nudge, nudge…donno about the zucchini, but the soup sure tasted good, & the tomatoes looked happy in there. The son’s had it on 3 occasions, 2 cups each time, with a generous smattering of baked croutons. 
Then yesterday he asked me if I had posted it, & also asked for the recipe. ??? hmmmmmm…GULP! Should I or shouldn’t I come clean & tell him the soup had ‘green’s? The question haunted me for a while, & then I thought, Why not?. So, I gingerly showed him pictures of the soup & the ingredients, & surprisingly he didn’t as much as bat an eyelid. All he nonchalantly said was, “Oh, what’s that? I didn’t taste the zucchini! Maybe it doesn’t have any taste.” 
All’s well, that ends well…& this one certainly did. The croutons are yummy, baked, & crisp! My croutons are now always either of multi grain bread or brown bread, whichever is on hand, & only baked. I stopped frying them ages ago.I think these croutons would do well tossed in a salad too!!
TOMATO & ZUCCHINI SOUP
My recipe
Ingredients:
Tomatoes – 8 medium; cut into 4 quarters
Zucchini – 1/ roughly chopped
Spring onions with greens – 4
Onion – 1 medium; chopped fine
Garlic – 2 cloves, chopped
Garlic – 4 cloves, whole
Butter – 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
Cream & fresh basil for garnishing
Method:
-
Heat butter in a heavy bottom pan (or pressure cooker which is what I use), & saute the chopped garlic & onion will light pink.
-
Add the rest of the veggies, add salt to taste, add about 1 cup of water, & cook till done (under pressure for 5-7 minutes).
-
Once cool, blend & strain.
-
Heat through & serve with a swirl of low fat cream, baked croutons & a sprig of basil.
OVEN BAKED HERBED CROUTONS
My recipe
Ingredients:
Whole-wheat brown bread – 4 slices, cut into small pieces
Oregano or grill seasoning – 1 tbsp
Oil – 1 tbsp
Method:
-
Toss all ingredients well. Spread out evenly in a cookie tray & bake in a preheated oven at 180C till golden brown & crisp / 15-20 minutes. Watch closely so they don’t get too dark/ burnt.
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Cool & store in an airtight box for about a week.
Hope this keeps you warm too…
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Deeba @ PAB
About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.
30 Comments
Asha
Mmm..!! I have been seeing loads of soups these days in blogs, more the better for this cold. Looks delicious, love the chunky croutons! :))
Elra
Deeba my dear, I totally need a bowl or two of your delicious soup, top with lots lots of croutons. Drooling!
Cheers,
Elra
nicisme
Even though I’m not mad on zucchini, it looks fabulous. Beautiful food styling Deeba.
anudivya
That cup is the most comforting thing I have seen today. Looks so pretty.
The Blonde Duck
I love that swirl in the middle! And I think it’s awesome you make your own croutons!
Linda
Love, love soups! I like this with the addition of the zucchini. I will have to give it a whirl!
Helene
We love soups. This is a beautiful one.
bee
that is a super gorgeous bowl of soup, deeba.
noble pig
Deeba- Your soup is gorgeous. The color and the croutons are just very yummy looking! I can’t wait to make this…with a grilled cheese sandwich on the side.
Sara
This looks great, although I have to admit I love anything that involves croutons.
Curry Leaf
Lovely I too love soups and especially tomato soup is comforting,Love the pics -too tempting for me to try this now.
Purnima
If the pics r sooooo comforting in this cold, what wd b the real one like? Oh crave,crave n crave for this! Shall make it this week! Tks for sharing! The pics r mighty impressive! Tks for baked crouton instructions as well!
Bharti
You certainly put the zucchini to good use Deeba. I can’t stand the vegetable and use it dishes only if I won’t be able to taste it! Good going. I’m gonna do this too next time.
Snooky doodle
what a nice and warming soup. I have to try my hand at some soup making . all these wonderful soups I m seeing on blogs are so tempting. I ve never made on by the way only some minestrone 🙂 this looks awesome tough for a cold winter night 🙂
Jamie
Ah….how can something so simple be so good? My son hates soup, though if it is perfectly smooth he may try a small bowl, and zucchini? Never! I may just go ahead and try this beautiful soup with the croutons (those always go over well) and see what even he says.
Navita
i can’t decide whether i like the soup or the cup…lol..
i think i will go with croutons
Lori Lynn
I love how you do the photomontage! Your soup is so pretty with the swirls and the garnish and the croutons. It looks so inviting I can’t imagine a little zucchini would scare even the pickiest eater away.
LL
Kevin
Great looking soup!
diva
gorgeous soup and croutons deeba! i’m finding the swirl of cream very sexxyyyy. xx
Gloria
Love your soup Deeba, and your dishes and pictures all!!! LOL Gloria
meeso
I have missed so many of your posts while in transition, It feels like it will take forever to catch up… Soup looks awesome!
Happy cook
I am going to try this soup soon, will have to wait till i do to the market.
My daughter loves soup , if there is no pieces of vegetables in them. So she will love this soup.
Funny thin is if i make minestron soup sheeat them with pleasure and that is loaded with vegetables.
But add these vegs in a soup and if it is not mixed she don’t touch it.
Yeha i know kids are weired.
SriLekha
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How To Eat A Cupcake
Your photos are incredibly mouth-watering!
toontz
Zucchini in tomato soup…great idea!!! Now I will have to remember that when zucchini is plentiful again.
lisa (dandysugar)
Soup is always delicious and I can never get enough. Love homemade soups, especially those with fresh veggies! Mmm…so good!
Camille
I’m not usually a fan of tomato soup, but this one I’m going to be making. It looks absolutey delicious! Perfect for these cold winter nights. I know the family will love it, too.
Maris
I love tomato soup! I want to give this one a try. It’s great that you made your own croutons too – I only like croutons when they’re homemade.
Camille
First, as I said above, I have never liked tomato soup…that is until now.
I made this last week, on a snowy day and my family loved it. More importantly, I loved it! This is a keeper and is being made again this week!
Magic of Spice
This is so beautiful, and sounds divine!