Tomato Blue Cheese Soup

What’s better than soup and a sandwich on a crisp, cool day? Felix’s Tomato, Basil and Blue Cheese Soup with fresh croutons and ooey-gooey-melty grilled cheese, that’s what! I happened to have a large chunk of blue cheese on hand one day (doesn’t everyone?), so I gave it to Felix, thinking he’d turn it into a burger topper or toss it into a salad – but no! He surprised me with this incredibly delicious (and super easy) soup! I’ve made tomato soup with cheddar and basil before, many times, which still gets requested often, but I would have never thought to add blue cheese. Bravo, Felix! This is one of my family’s new favorites, thanks to my friend, who blew my mind with this fantastic combo.

Choosing the ingredients

Have some fun with this soup and add your own favorite cheese in place of the blue, such as cheddar, fontina or any semi-firm cheese. It’s a versatile soup that cooks quickly, and can be made ahead and frozen, so you can have it on hand year-round. I like making it with my own garden tomatoes at the peak of summer and freezing for the winter months.

Making the grilled cheese

Don’t forget to save some cheese for the sandwich! We figured if you’ve made it this far, we didn’t have to include a recipe for a grilled cheese, as well, but here’s a little tip: butter the bread well on the outside and add just a bit of olive oil to the pan. This gives it a crispy, crusty exterior with a golden-brown finish and delicious flavor.

Blending the soup

If you have an immersion (stick) blender you can blend this all in the pot, which makes preparation and clean-up a breeze. If you don’t have an immersion blender, simply pour the hot soup into a stand blender and puree – I don’t mind a few small chunks, but you can make it as smooth as you like. Be very careful using a blender, as they can easily explode from the initial blast of steam being released. Simply leave the vent cap open and cover lightly with a folded-up paper towel, holding a large spoon or spatula over it to keep it in place when turning on the blender.