30 September

The humidity from the long rain spells is finally lifting a bit and there’s a brisk chill in the air. September is a beautiful time. late summer produce like juicy plump tomatoes are still found in abundance in the local produce market while the weather feels like fall. So this year I am thinking of creating a fall series of dishes which will bring together the light and delicate flavors of summer with the comforting style of autumnal cooking.

What is the best you can do with beautiful ripened tomatoes? Of course make them into a hearty thick and warm tomato soup. 

I have never been a fan of tomato to start with. As a child I used to hate tomato because of its mushy texture. Then once I started train journeys, tomato soup became a constant companion as the pre dinner or the lunch refreshment served onboard. It was perfect to satiate the hunger pangs we would feel in between the meals.

Rail travels always evokes a sense of romanticism. I really miss those old days when me with my extended family of 10-15 members would travel in trains to hill stations during our summer breaks. Adults sharing stories and banter sitting across the berths and kids engrossed in a game of ludo was how our train travel would look like. Not to mention the homemade snacks that would keep doing the rounds as the stories would pick up pace. 

But even after these tiny hurdles we would always crave for this in-between meal soups. They would give us the perfect excuse to sip on the warm soup sitting beside the window and staring at the beautiful sceneries whooshing past. 

The long train journeys and family gateways might have become a thing of past in the post covid world but the unmistakable aroma of tomato, black pepper, and toasted bread still plays on my senses and makes me want to go back in time. 

I hope the recipe I am taking about today takes you also back to those days of amazing train travels. This roasted tomato soup is totally a summer-crossing-into-fall type of soup and ready in around 30 - 35 minutes

Checkout other soup recipes on my blog:

• Spicy Thai Pumpkin Soup 
• Mushroom Bok Choy Soup
• Chicken Clear Soup