Creamy Tomato & Basil Soup

Step 1: To prepare the vegetables;

Step 2: Peel the tomato first if using fresh ~ then chop the tomatoes, finely chop the onion, finely dice the potatoes, finely dice the carrot and celery.

Step 3: Melt the butter in a large pan over a low heat, add all the vegetables at once and simmer for a few minutes. Cover with the stock and cook very gently for about an hour.

Step 4: Sieve or blend the soup and return it to the heat. Add half of the cream, a good pinch of the sugar and season to taste ~ stirring until just before boiling, then remove from the heat.

Step 5: Whip the remaining cream and stir in the chopped basil.

Step 6: Serve the soup in individual bowls topped with the basil cream.

Step 7: Sprinkle the garnish basil over the cream and serve.