Comforting BLT flavor soup (Printable Version)

Rich and creamy BLT-style soup with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and subtle spice.

# Ingredients Required:

→ Fats and Oils

01 - 15 ml olive oil

→ Meat

02 - 4 slices uncooked bacon, chopped

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 small onion, diced
04 - 2 green onions, chopped
05 - 1 head Romaine lettuce, cored and chopped or grated
06 - 400 g canned diced tomatoes

→ Flavorings and Seasonings

07 - 15 ml tomato paste
08 - 1 dash crushed red pepper
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
10 - 15 ml slivered fresh basil leaves

→ Thickening and Binding

11 - 32 g all-purpose flour

→ Liquids

12 - 960 ml chicken broth
13 - 240 ml half-and-half

→ Dairy and Alternatives

14 - 30-60 ml crème fraîche or mayonnaise

→ Toppings

15 - 60 g packaged croutons, slightly crushed

# Guide to Cooking:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large stock pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add chopped bacon and cook until beginning to brown and crispy to preference. Add diced onion and chopped green onions; sauté until soft and translucent. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes to develop flavor.
02 - Add chopped Romaine lettuce and diced tomatoes to the pot. When lettuce brightens in color, sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir thoroughly to combine. If mixture appears dry or pasty, add a small amount of chicken broth to loosen consistency.
03 - Pour in chicken broth, crushed red pepper, and season with salt. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Lower heat to minimal to keep warm.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk half-and-half with 30 ml crème fraîche. Ladle a portion of hot soup into the dairy mixture, whisking to temper and achieve smoothness. Gradually pour tempered dairy into the soup, stirring to incorporate.
05 - Ladle soup into bowls. Swirl remaining crème fraîche through each serving. Top with crushed croutons and slivered fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately.

# Extra Suggestions:

01 - For a vegetarian alternative, omit bacon and substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth.
02 - Use an immersion blender to puree the soup before adding dairy for a creamier texture.
03 - Mayonnaise may replace crème fraîche for a subtly sweeter finish.

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