Basic tomato soup

The soul-satisfying nature of a piping hot bowl of soup is hard to deny. Tomato soup might rank at the top of the list of most-beloved bowlfuls. This spin on the classic starts with mirepoix of vegetables—onion, celery, and carrot—sauteed with flavorful fresh basil. Lots of chopped garlic adds a bold, aromatic note to the mix. Using a blend of tomato paste and fresh tomatoes guarantees that the finished soup will have a concentrated, tomatoey flavor, but also the pleasing texture that only fresh tomatoes provide. Be sure to save some of the chopped fresh tomatoes and torn basil leaves for garnish. Add a sprinkling of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes if you wish.