Creamy tomato soup with cheesy pita dippers. That is it, that is all she wrote. Need I really say more? If there was ever a time I wanted to leave it at that, the time is now!
Before we start can we just take a quick moment of silence (aka pity party) for me, the mom at the grocery store whose kids are repeatedly yelling the word “Crotch.” I don’t know how, I don’t know why, but one day that word rolled off my lips while telling my son to zip his pants and the rest is history. NOT…A…DAY has gone by since then that they haven’t used it in every way, shape, and form they could and at the grocery store is the worst! Can you imagine, me, a young looking mom, standing next to the smug, know-it-all old couple while my kids say “I’m working in the crotch.” What does that even mean!?!?!? Please, pray for me people. Pray that my kids will find it in their hearts to stop saying “crotch” in the grocery store because if it happens again I might just jump into a bulk bin and never come out!
Moving on, this soup is the perfect blend of creamy and tomato with a hint of cheddar. Not only that, it is very dip-able, hence the pita dippers! The dippers can be put together in just a minute and thrown in the oven to complete the soup in a way that your kids will love. This soup is lunchbox friendly, freezer friendly, and versatile as I have even made it with extra veggies. This recipe is a large batch recipe, so I created it specifically for the moms looking to save some time by making a large batch and freezing some for later. The recipe filled my 8 quart stock pot, so the large batch is large! I freeze this soup in half pint ball jars to use specifically for my son’s lunchbox thermos and it is always a big hit. If you are only looking for a regular sized batch, just cut the recipe in half (included below).
Cheesy Pita Dippers
Ingredients:
- Store bought pitas (Food for Life Prophet Pockets Recommended, if you can’t find them check the ingredients in your pitas! They should not contain any weird ingredients, especially partially hydrogenated oils, preservatives, or bleached flours!)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Pink Himalayan or Kosher salt
- Freshly grated cheddar/parmesan cheese or cheese of your choice
Directions: Cut pitas in triangles and brush with olive oil. Lightly salt pitas, top with cheese, and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes until slightly browned and crisp.
Regular Batch Measurements
- 1 stick butter (1/4 pound)
- 1 garlic clove
- 1/2 cup flour
- 4 cups milk (whole or 2% recommended)
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese
- 6 cups (48 ounces) strained tomato (I buy strained tomatoes in a glass jar as I am not fond of canned tomato products. You can use any jarred/canned tomatoes as close to measurement as possible that are smooth and do not contain added salt)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 +1/4 tsp pink Himalayan or Kosher salt
- black pepper to taste
*Just for reference, this is the tomato product that I use. Look in your local organic section or specialty store and they should carry it. If you can’t find it, again any smooth and unsalted tomato product will work. Amazon also carries the product but it is more expensive online even in the bulk quantity.
Creamy Tomato Soup
By Published: August 14, 2014
- Cook: 45 mins
The creamiest classic tomato soup you'll find! This is a large batch recipe, perfect for eating now and freezing some for later! See small batch above.
Ingredients
- 2 sticks butter (salted)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup flour I used whole wheat white
- 8 cups milk whole or 2% recommended
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
- 12 cups strained tomatoes no salt added
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 4 1/2 tsp pink himalayan or kosher salt
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt butter over medium heat with garlic cloves until garlic is tender and fragrant. Add flour and whisk to create a thick paste. Allow to cook for a minute, then slowly add milk little by little, allowing mixture to thicken each time before adding more milk. This step will take the longest as this recipe is large and will require lots of whisking! If mixture is slow to thicken give it some heat.
- When milk is incorporated, add cheese and allow to melt. When cheese is melted slowly add tomatoes while stirring continuously. Add garlic powder and salt, and pepper. Additional salt may be required to taste. Serve with warm pita dippers and additional cheese if desired.
