Tomato Basil Soup in a jiffy

The tomato is a highly nutritious food that contains large amounts of vitamins, minerals and antioxidant phytochemicals.  Eating tomato soup can be beneficial for several health conditions. Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene.  Lycopene can lower the risk of certain cancers, especially prostate, stomach and lung.

If you want to take care of your bones, tomato soup can help. Tomatoes have vitamin K and calcium and if you make your soup with milk, you add even more calcium to your diet. Calcium and vitamin K help strengthen your bones and teeth. Tomatoes also contain vitamin A, which is important in maintaining healthy vision and skin.  Tomato soup is rich in potassium and vitamin B. These two nutrients help lower blood pressure.  

One of those evenings when you come home tired from work and do not have enough energy to cook something elaborate, this tomato basil soup is your answer.  This can be prepared in a jiffy.  I prepared this during a commercial break in my favorite serial on the television.

Ingredients:

4 medium tomatoes, 1/8 tsp baking soda, 2 cups water, ½ cup milk, ½ cup tomato sauce, 6 basil leaves, salt and black pepper to taste

Method:

Puree tomatoes with water and 4 basil leaves in a food processor. Cook them on a medium flame..  Discard the foam with a tablespoon which sets on the top.

Add tomato sauce or ketchup and cook on slow fire for a couple of minutes.

Add baking soda .Baking soda prevents curdling.

Add milk but do not boil it. Just make it only warm.

Season it with salt and pepper.                         

Serve hot.  Garnish with basil leaf in each cup.

This makes two cups of soup.

Enjoy with your favorite crackers or toasted bread.