Garlic bread and tomato soup

Each time you step inside a pizza shop, more than the smell of pizza, the smell of the garlic bread is the one which entertains our nose. How great it would be if we could only make garlic bread at home to enjoy with a bowl of hot tomato soup? Well it looks like the genie has granted your wish! Here goes the recipe of delicious garlic bread with everyday ingredients you can find in your kitchen

Preparation time:
45 minutes (both simultaneously)
serves 4 to 6

GARLIC BREAD

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, melted
3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 pack sandwich bread
2 tablespoons oregano or italian herbs mix
Turmeric 1/4 teaspoon

Preparation:
In a small bowl, combine butter, turmeric and garlic.
Brush the bread slices adequately on both sides with the above mixture and sprinkle with herbs.
Preheat the oven at 350° 
Place, the slices on a baking sheet and bake for 3 minutes.- or until golden brown.
Serve warm with soup.

TOMATO SOUP

Ingredients:
Country tomatoes - 4 big
olive oil  - 2 tablespoons
onion - 1 big
garlic - 3 to 4 cloves pealed
capsicum - 1 medium sized
salt - to taste
pepper - to taste
dried basil - 1 teaspoon 
croutons - to garnish

Preparation:
In a saucepan add olive oil, onion, garlic, tomatoes, capsicum, salt & pepper and roast for at least 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until few tomatoes are charred so as to get the smoky flavour in the soup.
   
Then add 2 cups of water and leave it to cook for 10 to 15 minutes.

Cool down and pureé it in blender.

Now pour it back into the saucepan and now add dried  basil and alow it to brisk boil.

Serve warm with croutons for garnish.

Notes:
Actual garlic bread is made with French bread but in my version I used plain sandwich bread, except for the bread the recipe holds good. 

At a time I placed 4 pieces in a baking tray and baked it. If you are using whole French bread then bake it for 8 minutes 

If you don't have oven you can very well do it on hot tawa on the stove top.
But oven gives better crisp bread and flavour of the garlic stays intact.

Capsicum gives added richness and texture to the soup,any colour capsicum can be used.
If you don't prefer capsicum you can skip it and instead add 2 tablespoons of heavy cream while you serve.

Croutons can be store bought or homemade (cut a slice of bread into cubes and fry it in ghee until they are golden brown)

if you don't have olive oil best substitute will be sunflower oil.

This is again a simple lockdown recipe try it out and bring a smile on your loved ones face during this touch situation. Don't forget to post your comments and queries.