Cherry Tomato Soup

Ingredients
  • 1 pack cherry tomatoes (about a dozen tomatoes), stalks removed and whole
  • 1 tablespoon tomato puree
  • 1 stalk celery, diced
  • 1 red onion, diced
  • 1 carrot, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled and whole
  • 2 italian sausages, sliced
  • pinch of thyme flowers
  • handful of fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
  • 500ml chicken stock
  • handful of pasta of your choice
  • extra virgin olive oil, to drizzle
Instructions
This is a really simple soup that goes great with lovely hunks of fresh bread.
Makes 3 portions.
  1. Add the onion, celery, carrot and garlic clove to a deep pan on a medium heat with a little olive oil.  Sweat the veg down without colouring it.  Season with salt and pepper.
  2. Add the italian sausage and thyme and stir round for a few minutes.
  3. Remove the garlic clove, then add the tomato puree and mix well.
  4. Add the cherry tomatoes and chicken stock and bring to a rolling boil.
  5. Scatter the pasta on the soup and simmer for 10 minutes.  If you see the soup getting dry, add more boiling water.
  6. Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper.  Scatter the chopped basil over and serve immediately.