Exploring the nostalgia and versatility of tomato soup, Kenji and Deb share classic recipes and innovative variations. They discuss flavor complexity, spice levels for kids, and caramelized cream soup development. The hosts also delve into cultural variations and the perfect pairing of grilled cheese with tomato soup for a fun culinary experience.
Tomato soup can serve as a culinary time portal, transforming dreary winter days into vibrant summer markets.
Variations in ingredients and cooking techniques can yield vastly different tomato soup flavors, showcasing the soup's versatility.
Deep dives
Tomato Soup Preparation Techniques
The podcast delves into various approaches to preparing tomato soup, highlighting the roasted cream of tomato soup and stovetop tomato soup recipes. One focuses on roasting tomatoes and onions in cream in a Dutch oven for rich flavors, while the other uses fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, and ginger for a cleaner, brighter taste. The hosts blend both leftovers to create a unique fusion of flavors.
Creaminess vs. Brightness of Tomato Soup
The discussion contrasts the creaminess of one tomato soup with the brighter flavors of another, showcasing how the handling of ingredients and cooking techniques can significantly influence the final taste. Each recipe emphasizes different aspects of the tomato flavor spectrum, showing the importance of method in soup creation.
Creativity in Recipe Development
The hosts share their innovative culinary experiments, such as creating a chicken tikka masala sauce by combining tomato soup with spices. They explore the adaptability of tomato soup in various cuisines, offering insights into transforming leftovers into new dishes like creamy chickpea curry or grilled cheese tacos with tomato soup.
Waffling and Frying in Butter
The hosts humorously explore unconventional cooking methods, pondering if tomato soup can be waffled (deciding it's unlikely) and discussing how blending ingredients like grilled cheese with tomato soup can lead to creative culinary pairings. Additionally, the idea of frying tomato soup in butter is considered, suggesting unique ways to enhance traditional recipes.
Some people think tomato soup only exists to serve as a dipping sauce for grilled cheese, but Kenji and Deb are here to set them straight. A properly, lovingly made tomato soup — even with sad-looking supermarket tomatoes from February — can be a time portal, from the dreariest winter day to the peak of summer farmer’s market fresh. Kenji makes Deb’s genius “grilled cheese kind of built into the tomato soup”, unlocking a new level of tomato soup nirvana.