Tomato-rice Soup, Italian Style

Total Time: 2 hrs Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup onion, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup celery, coarsely chopped
• 1 quart tomato puree or 1 (28 ounce) can ready-cut tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth or 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
• 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram, crumbled
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 cup brown rice
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 4 teaspoons grated parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 if using fresh tomatoes, use a food mill or press them through a colander. set aside.
• 2 melt butter in large sauce pan. saute onion and celery until the onion is clear and celery is soft.
• 3 combine tomato puree or ready-cut tomatoes, broth, and onion-celery mixture in blender. blend until smooth. push through a medium seive to remove any remaining celery strings. pour back into sauce pan. add seasonings and uncooked rice. simmer for 1 to 1-1/2 hours until rice is tender and soup has thickened somewhat.
• 4 note: if using rice, reduce cooking time to 20-30 minutes.
• 5 serve garnished with parmesan cheese.