Creamy Tomato Soup & Gouda Grilled Cheese is my all-time comfort meal. This creamy tomato soup is super easy to make and is brought to life by fresh thyme and garlic. Creamy tomato soup and gouda grilled cheese is the perfect combination of savory and cheesy goodness that will warm up your fall days.

Serves 8

Cook Time 1 hour 30 min

Ingredients:
1/4 cup salted butter
1 medium white onion, diced
8 springs fresh thyme
3 cloves garlic, smashed
4 tablespoons tomato paste
56 oz canned whole tomatoes
5 cups water
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Gouda Grilled Cheese Ingredients:
1 tablespoon salted butter
2 slices sourdough bread
Gouda, shredded
Optional: 1 tablespoon Parmesan Reggiano, shredded

Directions:

1. Melt butter in a dutch oven or large stock pot over medium heat. Add onion, thyme, and garlic, sautéing for 10 minutes or until onions are translucent.

2. Stir in tomato paste, coating all of the vegetables and cook for 5-7 minutes.

3. Add tomatoes and water to dutch oven, increasing heat to bring liquid to a boil. Once boiling reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for 50-55 minutes. Stirring often. Remove dutch oven from heat.

4. Using an immersion blender, or a regular blender working in small batches, blend soup until it is completely smooth.

5. Once soup is puréed, return to Dutch oven. Stir in heavy cream, kosher salt, and pepper.

6. Return Dutch oven to stove and heat over medium heat until the desired temperature is reached. Serve.

Gouda Grilled Cheese

1. In a small sauce pan add butter, melt over medium heat. Add two slices of bread to the pan, flipping once the bottom has been toasted.

2. Sprinkle gouda and optional parmesan on one side of the bread and cover with the other piece to make a sandwich. Once bottom bread of grilled cheese sandwich is golden brown flip.

3. Once both sides of grilled cheese are fully toasted and golden brown remove from pan, cut in half, and serve with creamy tomato soup.

Pro Tip: Buy tomato paste in a tube. This will cut down on unnecessary waste and is a great thing to have on hand when you need just a tablespoon or two for a recipe.