Pat: This is our kind of tomato soup—it has plenty of attitude! A double dose of heat (crushed red-pepper flakes and chipotle-pepper purée) gives it a smoky undertone; a garnish of avocado relish balances the flavors and provides an appealing texture. This soup is delicious with hot cornbread or grilled ham-and-cheese sandwiches.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 8
Ingredients
Avocado Relish
Preparation
Step 1
Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, carrots, garlic, thyme, red-pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt, and cook, stirring, until the ingredients are fragrant and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, broth, and bay leaves, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes.
Step 2
Meanwhile, make the avocado relish. Combine the avocado, red onion, cucumber, cilantro, serrano chile, lime juice, and a generous sprinkling of salt in a medium bowl. Taste for seasonings, and add more salt or lime as desired.
Step 3
After the soup has simmered, discard the bay leaves and stir in the chipotle peppers and vinegar. Working in batches, purée the soup in a blender or a food processor and return it to the pot. Season the purée with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, and serve each portion garnished with a few tablespoons of the avocado relish.
