Recipe: Sweet Surprise Tomato Basil Soup

This tasty recipe brings together the sweet tastes of late summer, with apples, tomatoes, bell peppers, and fresh basil for a delicious Italian twist on an old classic.

Sweet Surprise Tomato Basil Soup

Ingredients:

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1/4 cup unsweetened apple juice
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, grated
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 sweet onion, diced
1 cup vegetable or chicken stock
4 cups diced tomatoes (fresh or canned)
1/3 cup pasta (I suggest orzo)
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped 

Directions:

• Heat the apple juice and olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add to the soup pot the garlic, red bell pepper, and onion and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until the veggies are soft (making sure the onion doesn't brown). Drizzle in just a touch more apple juice if the veggies start to stick to the pot.
• Add the broth and diced tomatoes, bring to a boil, then add the orzo (or other small pasta you choose) and turn heat down just to stay at a slow bubble, and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes.
• Put lid on pot, turn heat down to low, and simmer for 15 minutes. 
• Remove the pot from the heat, uncover the pot, stir in the basil, and serve immediately.