Fat Free Tomato Soup

Today I made Immune Boosting, Fat Free Tomato Soup

After just entering a new year everybody seems to be on a health and fitness kick. With a communal desire to get in shape and eat well along with feeling better both in body and mind. All the ingredients in this soup have a health benefit and contain no fat and are considered as "free foods" by many diet programmes. This soup stars with Garlic and Onions. Onions are packed full of nutrients that counteract respiratory problems, their antibacterial action combats all kind of infectious disease and they protect the digestive system, Garlic is a Super Food offering a huge amount of benefits, ranging from aiding weight loss to fighting cancer. It helps the formation of new cells which keep hair, skin and nails young along with treating cellulite.

Rosemary has antiseptic and antioxidant qualities proving good for circulatory conditions, nervous problems and aids memory. Ginger is a perfect food to include in your diet at the start of a new healthy eating regime as it promotes detoxification, circulation and has a soothing affect to nausea. Tomatoes are packed full with vitamins and minerals most renowned for the life-saving qualities of Lyopene which prevents cancer. Staving off everything from wrinkles and sun damage to heart attacks. Carrots are a great source of Vitamin A which has a clarifying effect on your liver, promotes healthy eyes and speeds up post exercise recovery time. Basil contains many compounds that are known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

Ingredients: 

(Serves 6-8)   

• 3 Large Onions
• 10-12 Garlic Cloves
• 2 Tablespoons of Ginger  
• 4 Large Carrots 
• 6 Basil Leaves
• 1 Sprig of Rosemary
• 700g Pealed Plum Tomatoes
• 1 Lemon

Instructions:

1. Peel and roughly chop the Onions. Peel and crush the garlic with the back of your knife and put into a large sauce pan with a little water so they don't stick - Don't worry about being too fancy when chopping your Vegetables for this soup as you will be blitzing it anyways. 

2. Cook for 3-5 minutes until the Onions start to soften slightly. Chop the Carrots quite small and into even pieces. I leave the skin on, as most of the fiber is in the skin and also it saves times. Throw the Carrots into the Onion and Garlic.

3. Fry the Vegetables for 4-5 minutes then top up with boiling water and leave to simmer for 8-10 minutes. 

4. When the Vegetables have softened add in your Pealed Plum Tomatoes. Break the tomatoes down with a wooden spoon. 

5. Chop up the Basil and Rosemary -  I was only too happy to get a chance to use my fancy new double herb cutter.

6.  Add in your Herbs to your Vegetables. 

7. Using a fine grater, grate your Ginger and add it into the Vegetables and Herbs. 

8. Blend the Vegetables with a hand held blender or you can use a Smoothie maker to blend the soup. Scrape down the sides of the sauce pan to make sure you have no lumps.

9. Stir the Soup to ensure there are no lumps. Keeping the soup on the heat add in the juice of one Lemon and stir through.

10. To serve. Ladle into your favourite bowl. You can place a teaspoon of light Cream Cheese and a Basil Leaf if you're feeling fancy.

“No disease that can be treated by diet should be treated with any other means.”