Raw Food “Roasted” Tomato Basil Soup
I often get asked how I got started with raw foods. It all involves a TV show, my trying to make the food because it sounded so interesting, and my daughters vowing to never eat raw food again after they tasted what I made. That was a long time ago. My daughters now love the raw food I make but I will never forget the looks on their faces the night I presented my first attempt at raw.
One of the ingredients in that first dish was tomatoes. A lot of tomatoes. The dish wasn’t balanced and the acidity of the raw tomatoes overwhelmed the dish. This sauce left such an impression on me that I have been hesitant to experiment with tomato based sauces and soups, ever since.
I had four beautiful, orange heirloom tomatoes sitting on my counter that needed immediate attention. They were my replacement tomatoes given to me after I had to use my stash when Skyler met the skunk. I decided to marinate and “roast” the tomatoes in the dehydrator and add a little Brazil nut milk. The resulting soup is flavorful, satisfying and balanced. I think I am over my raw tomato sauce aversion.
"Roasted" Tomato Basil Soup
SERVES 2
Soup
- 4 large tomatoes, chopped
- 1/4 mild onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- pinch salt and pepper
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup Brazil nut milk
- You will need to dehydrate the tomatoes for 6 hours. You can soak the Brazil nuts at the same time for the nut milk.
- In a large bowl, combine chopped tomatoes, onion, oil, basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Let sit for 1/2 hour. Drain.
- Place tomatoes on teflex sheets and dehydrate for 1/2 hour at 146 degrees and then 5.5 hours @ 116 degrees.
- Place tomatoes, onions and 2 cups water in the Vitamix. Puree. Add 1/2 cup Brazil nut milk, quickly blend. You can lightly heat the soup in your dehydrator.
Brazil Nut Milk
- 1 cup Brazil nuts
- 4 cups water
- Soak the nuts in the water for 6 hours. Place in vitamix. Process until very well blended.
- Strain through cheese cloth or nutmilk bag. Will make 4 cups.
Jocelyn K. wrote on September 10, 2011
Had this for dinner this evening. It was delicious! My hubby and I both loved it. I doubled the recipe but used 1 cup less of water. It tasted more like tomato bisque. Yummmmm! This is my new favorite raw soup! 🙂 Thanks for a great recipe, Susan!
Rennae wrote on January 17, 2010
Since the VitaMix can make hot soups, does the temperature exceed the “magic” temperature so it is no longer raw? Since I am new to all this, the hardest thing that I am struggling with is the lack of warm food. Any suggestions?
Susan wrote on January 17, 2010
At some point in the mixing it would exceed the “magic” temperature. 🙂 If you want to make sure it stays raw, you need to watch the temp.