Apple Farm Inn's Creamy Tomato Basil Bisque

The distinctive taste of tomatoes is mellowed with cream and spiced with Tabasco, Worchestershire and basil for a lovely bisque. Bread brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with Parmesan, then toasted, is a good accompaniment.

Servings: 4 cups

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Pair With: An Italian or Cal-Italian red, like a Sangiovese.

Source: Recipe courtesy Apple Farm Inn; photo by Tama Takahashi.

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped    
1/2 cup yellow onion, diced                
1/2 cup celery, chopped    
1 tablespoon butter    
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour    
1/2 cube vegetable bouillon                 
1 cup hot water                            
28 oz. can diced tomato                                                         
3/4 teaspoon black pepper             
3/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce                    
1/8 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce                    
1/2 cup heavy cream                     
1/2 cup half-and-half        
1/4 cup, loosely packed fresh basil

DIRECTIONS

Heat the oil in a saucepan. When the oil starts to get hot, add the bell pepper, onion and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the peppers start to change color. Add the butter and let it melt. Once the butter has melted, add the flour and cook five minutes more, stirring occasionally.

While the butter is melting, dissolve the vegetable bouillon in the hot water. Add the tomatoes and stir well. Add the pepper, Tabasco and Worcestershire sauces. Using a hand held blender or in a food processor, mix on high until all the vegetables are smooth. Add the cream, half-and-half and basil. Blend again, this time just till the basil is chopped fine.

Recipe Courtesy Of

Apple Farm's Wine Country Inn

The homey ambiance of Apple Farm Inn makes it an ideal escape in beautiful San Luis Obispo Wine Country.