Copycat Saks Fifth Avenues Tomato Basil Bisque Recipes

CREAMY TOMATO BASIL BISQUE

Steps:

• Score, blanch, and peel the tomatoes. Cut in half, scoop out and discard the seeds. Chop the peeled and seeded tomatoes. Roughly chop onion and garlic.
• Heat the pan on the stove over a medium flame. Once it's hot, add the olive oil and heat an additional minute.
• Stir in the onions. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. When the onions are fragrant and starting to turn a translucent golden color add the garlic and cook 1 minute longer.
• Add the salt, pepper, tomatoes, vegetable stock, vinegar, and bay leaves. Stir to combine.
• Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover, drop heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• After 30 minutes, remove the bay leaves and puree the soup until smooth, preferably using a stick blender.
• Make a cornstarch slurry by mixing the cornstarch with the cold whipping cream, stirring to dissolve completely. Julienne the basil.
• Add the cornstarch slurry, grated parmesan, and basil into the soup. Stir to combine. Cover and allow to cook on low an additional 15 minutes.
• Serve garnished with additional parmesan or a drizzle of cream and a sprig of fresh basil.

CREAMY TOMATO BASIL BISQUE

Steps:

• To make the basil oil, puree basil leaves together with oil in a high-speed blender until smooth.
• Strain through a fine mesh sieve or chinois twice. Do not press down on the mixture or you'll end up with a bitter note to the oil.
• Let sit for 2 hours before storing in an airtight container. While the basil oil is resting, start on the soup.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. On the blossom end of each tomato (opposite the stem), score with an "X" with a paring knife. Add tomatoes to the boiling water.
• Boil for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Remove from the water to a bowl filled with ice water. Remove the tomatoes from water and gently peel.
• Remove the seeds from each tomato. Add tomato pieces to a large bowl. Add the seeds and goop that you remove to a sieve placed over the bowl of tomatoes. Mash the innards through a bowl to get all the flavor from those, without the seeds. Set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and onion, stirring occasionally until the onion has softened, approximately 7 minutes.
• Add tomatoes, chicken stock, and sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the liquid reduces by one quarter, approximately 20 minutes.
• Turn off heat and cool the mixture for about 10 minutes. Using a stick blender, puree the soup until it is smooth. If you don't have a stick blender, you can also use a blender or food processor, working in batches.
• Bring the pureed soup to a simmer over medium heat, then add cream and basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Ladle into bowls, and garnish with an extra drizzle of heavy cream and basil oil.

COPYCAT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE'S TOMATO-BASIL BISQUE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan or stockpot over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is soft. Add the flour, one tablespoon at a time while stirring. Stir until the flour is incorporated. Add the garlic, tomatoes, and basil and mix well. While stirring, slowly add the tomato puree, beef stock, and whipping cream. Mix well. Add the bay leaf and reduce the heat to low. Let simmer on low for one hour. Do not let the soup bisque boil. Remove the bay leaf. Season the soup with salt and pepper. Serve warm. You can add a drizzle of cream when serving, if desired.

TOMATO BASIL BISQUE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook celery, carrots, onion, and garlic in butter until vegetables are tender, but not brown.
• Add tomato juice, chicken broth, undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, and pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 30 minutes or until slightly thickened.
• Place half of the soup in a blender container or food processor bowl. Cover; blend or process until smooth. Repeat with remaining mixture.
• Return all of the mixture to the saucepan. Stir in whipping cream and sugar; heat through. Stir in fresh basil. Ladle into warm soup bowls. Top each serving with some of the pesto and garnish with fresh basil leaves, if you like. Makes 8 side-dish servings.

CHUNKY TOMATO-BASIL BISQUE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute the celery, onion and red pepper in butter for 5-6 minutes or until tender. Add tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 40 minutes. , Remove from the heat. Stir in the basil, sugar, salt and pepper; cool slightly. Transfer half of the soup mixture to a blender. While processing, gradually add cream; process until pureed. Return to the pan; heat through (do not boil).

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE TOMATO BISQUE

Steps:

• Heat butter in a large stock pot. Dice onion and celery and add to pot. Saute until the onion is transparent.
• Sprinkle flour over onions one tablespoon at a time, stirring in each one thoroughly with a large spoon until paste forms.
• Add garlic, diced tomatoes and basil; stir.
• Stir in tomato puree and beef stock slowly, then whipping cream. The soup should be a rose color.
• Add bay leaf and simmer on low for about 1 hour. Remove bay leaf before serving.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• 8 to 10 servings.
• Lovely served with pate sandwiches recipe #117904 for a special luncheon. Or, serve in shot glasses as a tasty first course!

TOMATO BASIL BISQUE

Steps:

• Saute the onions and garlic in the butter until soft.
• Add the tomatoes, tomato juice, and bay leaves; simmer for 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let cool.
• Drain the tomatoes, reserving the juice, and puree them in a blender or food processor with the cream cheese.
• Mix the puree with the reserved juice.
• Add the light cream and season to taste with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
• Add freshly chopped sweet basil.
• Simmer for 10 minute and serve with bread bowls.