The Best Ever Classic Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup The Soup Comes Together In 30 Minutes And The Grilled Cheese Uses Three Delicious Cheeses
Whenever someone asks me what my favorite food is, I always respond right away with grilled cheese and tomato soup. It is the ultimate comfort food for me, and there is pretty much never a time when I am not in the mood for grilled cheese. If it is on a menu, I will order it.
I prefer a classic grilled cheese and tomato soup to something super fancy. I mean I love brie on a sandwich as much as the next person, but theres just something so delicious about a classic grilled cheese sandwich and simple, easy tomato soup. I realized that I dont have just a straight forward, easy recipe on the blog so here we are! This is the best ever grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Is Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup Good For You
You maybe wondering if grilled cheese and tomato soup is good for you. One of the reasons why I love this recipe is we use fresh ripe tomatoes. Tomatoes are packed with lycopene which is an antioxidant.
The reality is though, this is a grilled cheese sandwich. It is not a salad sandwich my friends. It has cheese and the soup has cream.
But the way I like to think about this is all foods in moderation!
If you were eating a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup every day it is probably not the best method to manage your weight. But if you switch it up with some salads and other lunch ideas thrown in there then you won’t feel that you are depriving yourself. Live a little I say!
Plus I have put all of the grilled cheese and tomato soup calories in the recipe card, so you can read all about it!
Tips For A Thick Tomato Soup
Let the soup simmer and reduce the water to thicken, but if you want a thicker result, mix 1-2 teaspoons of cornstarch with a few teaspoons of water and stir into soup. Leave on low heat until thickened.
Alternatively, you can add some cubed potatoes to the onions and let the onions cook completely. The mixed potatoes will thicken the soup without adding any thickeners.
- Always freeze before adding ice cream. Let the mixed soup cool to room temperature. Transfer to a freezer-safe jar, box, or bag and seal. Freeze for up to 4 months. Thaw completely before adding cream and reheating.
- This soup can be made 3 days in advance. Store chilled soup in the refrigerator and reheat over medium heat before serving.
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Why Is Tomato Soup And Grilled Cheese A Thing
This beloved combo for most of us stems from the school lunch menu. The paring of the vitamin C in the tomato soup with the protein in the bread and cheese meets the nutritional standard required by school districts to provide a well-rounded lunch for students. The paring of these two soul-warming delights became most common in the 1920s.
During the Great Depression, tomato soup and grilled cheese became even more popular. Allowing families to provide a healthy meal on the tightest of budgets. Also, soldiers returning home after WWII came home with a hearty appetite for the gooey, greasy sandwich after it became a stable served during their time overseas. Housewives and restaurants alike began whipping up this tasty treat. The grilled cheese and tomato soup combo can be found on the menus of local delis to five-star restaurants around the world.
Regardless of which bread or cheese you prefer to make your grilled cheese, there is nothing better than paring it with Tomato soup made with fresh tomatoes from the garden. Check out our Tomato Sauce recipe and turn those tomatoes into a bone-warming delicious meal today!
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches And Rustic Tomato Basil Soup
I have this fear that Ill run out of recipes to share since this blog is all about the foods I cook at home. And normal people dont cook a new recipe every time they make something. For those who do, Im thinking they just havent found their favorites yet? Once I make something I love, rest assured itll be in the rotation for a very long time.
And I wouldnt ever put up a recipe that I didnt stand behind and love 100%. So yeah, I worry a bit that Ill run out of recipes one day to share with you all. I realize this little fear of mine is pretty irrational, considering I have an enormous and growing list of foods that I cant wait to post. Plus, I find a ton of inspiration all the time and get wonderfully random cravings for certain foods all the time. So maybe its just a case of the food blogger syndrome? Well see, but all I know is that Im loving sharing my recipes and thoughts with you guys and I will always appreciate beautiful ingredients and putting them together in a way that makes me happy. With that combo, I think were good.
So lets move on to the recipe of the day already, huh? Because when I started writing this post I thought Id mention it sooner, but thoughts happened. Sorry about that, guys.
Ive always thought Id love to make a really good homemade tomato soup, but I never actually got around to it.
Keep moving, Bita.
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How To Make Homemade Tomato Soup: Some Tips
Every cook needs a great homemade tomato soup recipe, and this ones ours! It relies on a few simple ingredients to make big flavor. It takes just 25 minutes to make, and you can simmer it while you make the grilled cheese! Here are a few tips on assembling this simple soup:
- Fire-roasted tomatoes bring the best flavor. This type of canned tomato is roasted over a flame before canning, which makes it taste sweeter right out of the can. This means you can get away with less simmering time! Most mainstream grocery stores in the US now carry this type, but if you cant find them, just use the best quality tomatoes you can find.
- Give the soup a quick blend! You can use a standard blender or immersion blender, which makes a nice, creamy texture and helps emulsify the oil.
- Add fresh basil and a little butter. Fresh basil adds great flavor and an herby pop, but its not required! We like finishing the soup with butter to provide a rich, silky mouthfeel.
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches 101
I know Ive made the perfect grilled cheese sandwich when the outside has a golden, toasted, almost crunchy crust that when bitten into, yields to more tender bread and a molten cheese middle. Here are some tips to make that kind of sandwich.
For a lovely, golden, toasted exterior, sliced white bread is the best type to use for grilled cheese sandwiches. The Island-baked breads I like to use are Portofino European Bakery white pan loaf, or Island Bakery premium white bread.
If youve baked your own white bread or bought an unsliced loaf to make the sandwich, cut it about the same thickness as store-bought sliced white bread. If you cut it too thick, it will take forever for the cheese to melt and you’ll over- toast the bread.
Evenly and generously coat the bread with butter to ensure that the whole slice turns golden brown when grilled. Some folks actually like to spread the side of the bread that will be grilled with mayonnaise instead of butter. That mayonnaise does turn the bread golden when grilled, but Im old school and still prefer to use butter.
Cook the sandwiches in a pan or griddle set over medium heat. This moderate temperature will ensure the outside of the bread slowly browns, while the cheese in the middle has a chance to heat up and melt.
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More Reasons For The Classic Combo
Grilled cheese and tomato soup. Few culinary combinations seem to soothe the soul so much. Take a bite of a chewy, greasy sandwich and a sip of soup . And youll be instantly transported back to your childhood. While this dynamic duo is a great year-round comfort food. It looks especially delicious when the outside temperatures start to drop.
Around the world, cooking cheese and bread together is an ancient tradition found in different cultures. However, the grilled cheese sandwich as we know it today seems to have originated in the 1920s, after American cheese and sliced bread became widespread.
A dumpling version of a grilled cheese sandwich called the Cheese Dream became popular during the Great Depression because its ingredients were so cheap. Grilled cheese had another surge in prices after the Second World War. Soldiers returned home with a fondness for sandwiches, a staple of the government-issued menu during the war.
While grilled cheese sandwiches are delicious, there is no better companion than tomato soup. No one seems to know where or when this association originated. But it has become a quintessential part of American life, especially in the fall and winter. Its not hard to see why. The tomatos acidity creates the perfect foil for rich cheeses. And the crunch of the toast provides a nice textural counterpoint.
How To Make The Perfect Grilled Cheese
Butter your bread! I have seen people use olive oil or a combination of oil and butter, but I love to keep it simple and delicious with a little salted butter. I like to spread a little bit of butter on the outside of each slice of bread and top it with a sprinkle of garlic salt. My favorite garlic salt comes from Sprouts. Its got little bits of dried parsley in it as well.
Use good cheese! You want to use a low moisture cheese that will melt properly. Dont go for pre-sliced cheese since it often has preservatives in it that will keep it from melting properly. I used a combination of thinly sliced smoked cheddar, monterey jack and shaved asiago cheese for this grilled cheese. The smoked cheddar really makes it extra amazing, but a regular, sharp cheddar will work great as well.
Dont burn it! Keep an eye on your grilled cheese. They burn quickly so I like to just take my spatula and lift a corner of the sandwich every once in a while to keep an eye on it. If it is cooking too fast, and your cheese isnt melting, turn down the heat. I find that medium heat on a skillet or grill pan is perfect.
Choose your bread wisely I will often make grilled cheese just on whatever bread I have on hand, but it is extra special when made on sourdough. Make sure you slice the bread thinly so it cooks evenly, and you get the right bread to cheese ratio.
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Why Is Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup A Thing
Grilled cheese and tomato soup is one of those food combos that makes a strong impression on all of our generations. However, have you ever wondered why is grilled cheese and tomato soup a thing? If you are curious about the answer, as well as looking for an easy classic recipe for this couple. Lets continue reading this article with Sunset Bar and Grill!
Contents
How To Make The Tomato Soup
Grilled cheese and tomato soup go hand in hand! Now that you are a Pro at making grilled cheese, you will want to make this soup to go along with it.
The ultimate comfort food, whether you are not feeling well, need to warm up from the inside out or you just need a little comfort, this recipe will be there to rescue you.
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Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup
Grilled cheese and tomato soup is the ultimate comfort food! Making it homemade makes it even better! This recipe will show you how easy it is and you will see just how delicious it is too!
It sounds so simple, and that is because it is! Using the right bread and cheese for this sandwich will make the world of difference.
The better the tomatoes the better the flavor, try to buy the best canned tomatoes that you can.
You wont be making your grilled cheese using plain old American cheese anymore!
Tips For A Gourmet Grilled Cheese
You can make any type of grilled cheese to go with this tomato soup. But our favorite is this gourmet grilled cheese! Just a few small tweaks take this classic sandwich from good to great. Heres what to know:
- Use sourdough bread or another type of artisan loaf or crusty bread. Great bread makes the sandwich!
- Combine shredded smoked gouda and cheddar cheese. The hint of smoky cheese makes this sandwich taste incredible! Shredded cheese is great for a grilled cheese, because it makes the gooiest, meltiest interior .
- Add a sweet element. Pairing sweet with the savory takes it to another level! Try tomato, fig or apricot jam, or a thinly sliced apple or pear.
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How To Make Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup
Lets start with the soup!!
Saute the garlic in a large pot over medium heat until fragrant. Add the tomatoes, basil, thyme and onion powder to the pot. . Stir and cook for 10 minutes.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the chicken broth and the tomato liquid. Stir and allow to cook, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add garlic salt and pepper to taste. Working in small batches add the soup to a blender. Blend the chunky mixture until it is smooth and creamy. Pour into a large serving bowl. Repeat with the remaining soup until it has all been blended and added to a serving bowl.
Stir the heavy cream into the blended mixture. Mix until well combined. Taste, if needed, and add more garlic salt and pepper. Garnish with croutons, basil and Parmesan Cheese.
How To Thicken Tomato Soup
Allowing the soup to simmer and reduce will thicken it but if you want a thicker end result, mix 1-2 teaspoons of corn starch with a few teaspoons of water and stir into the soup. Allow to simmer until thickened. Alternatively, you can add some cubed potatoes to the onions and allow to cook completely. The blended potatoes will thicken the soup without the need for any additional thickeners.
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Is Grilled Cheese Unhealthy
If you are worried that grilled cheese is unhealthy you can try a few different options to reduce the calorie intake. Grilled cheese can be high in saturated fat and salt.
Here are some ways to manage that:
- only eat ½ sandwich for a meal with your soup, save the other half for another meal
- cut the sandwich into 4 pieces instead of 2
- use low fat cheese
- reduce the volume of cheese on the sandwich
- use a cooking spray instead of butter for your bread
Deluxe Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
I call these deluxe because the bread is richly buttered and stuffed with three types of cheese. When grilled, the bread becomes toasted and golden and the cheese melts together and becomes molten and marvellous.
Preparation time: Five minutes
Cooking time: Six to eight minutes
Makes: Two sandwiches
4 slices white bread
3 to 4 Tbsp butter, at room temperature
50 to 60 grams old orange cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
50 to 60 grams old white cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
2 to 3 thin slices process cheese
Evenly and generously butter one side of each bread slice. Top the unbuttered side of two of the bread slices with slices of orange cheddar, white cheddar and processed cheese, ensuring the surface of the bread is completely covered. Set on the other bread slices, buttered side up.
Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the sandwiches and grill three to four minutes per side, or until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown. Lower the heat a bit if the sandwiches are browning too quickly.
When theyre cooked, to prevent the melted cheese from running out like hot lava , let the sandwiches rest a minute, before cutting and serving.
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What Kind Of Soup Goes Good With Grilled Cheese
There are lots of different soups to try with grilled cheese.
This creamy tomato soup works goes well with the grilled cheese as it has a smooth texture and it absorbs readily into the bread.
The idea of the bread is to be able to dunk it into the soup and have it all sopped up so you have mouthfuls of utter deliciousness!
It is much easier to dunk into a smooth textured soup than to have to push all of the ingredients out of the way to get liquid to dunk with like a minestrone soup for example!
Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup Crack Bread
The ultimate soup and sandwich combocreamy tomato soup and a gooey grilled cheesecome together as one in this recipe for an incredible, snackable pull-apart bread. Starting with an already-made loaf of crusty Italian bread, this creative take on a classic food pairing is super easy to pull together and makes for a rave-worthy appetizer for anything from tailgates to holiday gatherings. Such loaded loafs of pull-apart bread have affectionately earned the name “crack bread” because of how absurdly addictive they are. Not gonna lie, we legitimately cannot get enough of this one, loaded with tomato soup and plenty of cheddar cheese.
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