Tom's Tasty Tomato Soup with Brown Butter Croutons

Ingredients

• 0.3 teaspoon pepper black as needed freshly ground plus more
• 0.3 teaspoon celery seed 
• 3  garlic clove with the side of a knife and peeled smashed
• 0.7 cup cup heavy whipping cream 
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt as needed plus more
• 6 servings pepper black freshly ground
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 1 medium onion thinly sliced
• 0.3 teaspoon oregano dried fresh finely chopped
• 0.3 teaspoon pepper red crushed
• 4 slices bread crumbs european-style cut into 3/4- to 1-inch cubes (30 to 36 cubes)
• 1 tablespoon sugar 
• 5 cups canned tomatoes whole canned
• 3 tablespoons butter unsalted
• 1 cup water 

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• baking sheet
• sauce pan
• oven
• pot
• blender

Directions

1. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large saucepan and sauté the onion and garlic until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the tomatoes, water, cream, salt, red pepper flakes, celery seed, oregano, and sugar. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and simmer for15 minutes.
3. Remove from the heat and puree in batches in the container of a blender. Return the soup to the pot and reheat to a simmer, seasoning to taste with more salt and pepper.
4. Meanwhile, to make the brown butter croutons, preheat the oven to 350°F.
5. Heat the butter in a small pan over medium heat and cook, stirring often, until the butter is golden brown and aromatic, about 3 minutes after the butter melts.
6. Remove from the heat.
7. Put the bread cubes in a bowl and pour the brown butter over them, tossing to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper and toss again.
8. Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet and place it in the oven.
9. Bake until the croutons are toasted and golden, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
10. Remove the pan from the oven.
11. Serve the soup hot, garnished with the croutons.
12. From The Dahlia
13. Bakery Cookbook: Sweetness in Seattle by Tom Douglas and Shelley Lance. Photography by Ed Anderson. Copyright © 2012 by Tom Douglas. Published by Harper
14. Collins Publishers.