Tomato Soup with Fennel, Vegetables, and Green Beans

To prepare a delicious and nutritious soup, we start by carefully cleaning, washing, and chopping the onion, bell pepper, garlic, and fennel. These aromatic vegetables will bring a special flavor to our dish. The carrot, parsley, and celery will be grated, achieving a fine and uniform texture that will enrich the vegetable broth.

In a frying pan or deep pot, we heat the oil, choosing a sufficient amount to sauté the vegetables without sticking. Once the oil reaches the optimal temperature, we add the chopped vegetables, allowing them to sweat until they become soft, about 3/4 of the cooking time. This process will allow the flavors to fully reveal themselves. After the vegetables have started to soften, we add the grated vegetables, continuing to sweat them for another 5 minutes. It is important to stir occasionally to prevent burning.

Once we have achieved a fragrant and well-cooked mixture, we pour in the broth, add the bay leaf and basil, essential ingredients for a rich taste. We let the mixture boil, being careful to monitor the consistency of the soup. If we notice it is too thick, we can gradually add water to achieve the desired texture.

After the soup has boiled for a sufficient time, we remove the vegetables and put them in a blender. We blend until we obtain a fine paste, then reintroduce this mixture into the soup pot, allowing it to boil again to integrate all the flavors. In the last 5 minutes of boiling, we add the canned beans, which will add substance and flavor.

If using store-bought broth or canned tomatoes, it is essential to adjust the taste with salt and pepper to achieve a perfect balance of flavors. Personally, I prefer homemade broth, which already contains the necessary spices, so I don’t add anything extra.

The soup is served hot, and for those who do not observe fasting, a spoonful of sour cream added on top will transform the dish into a true delicacy. For those who appreciate a sweeter note in soups, a little sugar can be added at the end to balance the acidity of the tomatoes. This soup is not only comforting but also full of vitamins, making it perfect for chilly days.