Creamy Tomato Bisque

An elegant tomato bisque combines the flavors of fresh basil with anise liqueur and fennel seed. It's delicious as a soup or even ladled over hot cooked pasta.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 142 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups half-and-half
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 4 teaspoons salt
• 2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup chopped fresh basil
• ¼ cup anise flavored liqueur (such as Pernod®)
• 1 tablespoon crushed fennel seed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until foamy. Cook and stir the onion until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, anise liqueur, fennel seed, salt, and pepper, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer to blend the flavors, about 30 minutes.

Step 2

Stir in the half-and-half and basil, and heat on low heat until the soup is hot but not boiling. Puree until smooth with an immersion blender. Alternatively, pour the bisque into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the bisque moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth.