Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Have you had your tomatoes today?


If your Mother ever told you, "Eat your vegetables, they're good for you." Well, she's right. Particularly tomatoes.

Tomatoes contain lots of lycopene (a carotenoid known for its antioxidant properties). Carotenoids work by attaching to free radicals and corralling them up so they can be flushed out.

It is best to cook the tomatoes as they are absorbed more easily. So some have spaghetti sauce, bruchetta, chili, or top it on your pizza without any guilt. Cause it's good for you!

Here is one of my favourite recipes. It's easy and yummy! Have a bowl today. I did.

Spicy Tomato and Bell Pepper Soup

Ingredients

3-4 large red bell peppers
1 large onion, chopped
1-2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, trimmed and chopped
1 box low sodium vegetable stock (or chicken)
2 bay leaves
1 tsp italian seasonings
1 tsp crushed chili flakes (optional for a little kick)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 green onions, finely chopped (optional for garnish)
salt and pepper taste
  1. Preheat broiler. Wash, pat dry, halve and remove seeds from red peppers. Arrange on rack skin side up. Broil approx 8-10 mins until softened and blackened
  2. Leave to cool slightly, carefully peel of the blackened skin. Chop peppers
  3. In preheated large pot, add olive oil, chopped onion, chopped carrots and celery. Saute over medium heat until softened, approx 6-8 mins. Once softened add peppers, stock, crushed chili flakes, bay leaf, italian seasonings and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 15 mins
  4. Remove from heat. Remove bay leaves. Stir in tomatoes. Carefully use hand blender or transfer to a blender. Process until smooth. Return to heat.
  5. Season to taste and heat for 3-4 mins until hot. Ladle into bowls and garnish with green onions.
Serve with crusty bread and enjoy!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was just minding my own business and dropping by to see what going on and all of a sudden I landed on Martha Stewart's blog! Tomato soup? I like tomatoes, love the pasta thing and in my lettuce salad but soup? Not much of a tomato soup lover but your recipe does sound tasty. How come all the people who say eat your vegetables are always the ones who get sick alot? Hee, hee, hee.

sty-lee said...

I was never a tomato soup lover either Rance. But once I tried this one, well, it kinda grew on me. I love it. I actually put more chili flakes cause I like this hot! I get asked a lot for my recipes so I thought I'd post it for those who want to make it.

You're right, I do get sick a lot.I don't eat as many veggies as I should that's why I gotta mush them all up in a soup to get them all in!

Christine said...

I prefer Dim Sum to tomato soup.

bb said...

mmm. I will make this. How about the recipe for the banana bread?

sty-lee said...

Dim Sum wins hands down, Christine! Lets get together soon.

B.B. let me know how the soup turned out. I'll email you the recipe for the cake. I'm not Martha but I do bake a mean banana bread!