Tomato Carrot Soup

Tomato Carrot Soup in Marathi

Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:
8 Large tomatoes, big chunks
2 large carrots, cut into cubes
1 small onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1.5 tsp olive oil
1/4 to 1/2 cup basil leaves, finely chopped
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp sugar (optional)
1/2 cup orange juice (unsweetened)
1/4 cup coconut milk or heavy cream
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp black pepper.

Method:
1) Heat olive oil into a deep pan. Add bay leaves, and garlic. Saute for few seconds. Add onion and saute until onion becomes slightly translucent.
2) Add carrots, cover the pan and cook until carrots become soft. Add tomato chunks and cover again. When tomatoes becomes mushy, add basil leaves. Cook uncovered for 2-3 minutes. Remove the pan from heat. Let it cool down for 5-7 minutes.
3) Remove the bay leaves. Put the cooked tomatoes-carrots mixture into a blender. Grind it and make a fine puree. Strain this puree. Add little water while straining to extract as much as you can. Also water will help you to adjust the consistency.
4) Transfer strained soup back to the pan. Add orange juice, salt, red chili powder and sugar to taste. Boil for few minutes. Add cream/ coconut milk and simmer for couple of minutes.
Serve in soup bowls. Drizzle a spoonful of cream and some freshly crushed black pepper.