The season for delicious soup is here!  This wonderful tomato soup recipe comes from the Bistro Jeanty restaurant in Yountville, California.  It’s one of many fantastic restaurant recipes in Napa Valley.  

The French term… “en croûte”… simply means to bake in a pastry crust. 

You will need:

2 1/2 lbs ripe/juicy tomatoes
1/2 cup butter
1/2 pound of onion
6 garlic cloves
1/4 c of tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1/2 T pepper corns
1 tsp. thyme
4 cups heavy cream
1 T butter
salt to taste
1/2 tsp white pepper
1 lb. puff pastry
1 egg

Procedure:

Melt the 1/2 cup butter in a large stockpot over medium-low heat. Add the onions, garlic, thyme, bay leaf and peppercorns; cover and cook for about 5 minutes. Do not let the onions color.

Add tomato paste and lightly “toast” the tomato paste to cook out the raw flavor the add tomatoes, and water if needed. Simmer over low heat for 30-40 minutes, until the tomatoes and onions are very soft and broken down.

Puree by passing through a food mill. A food mill works best, however, you may use a blender in batches or a handheld immersion blender until finished, then strain.

Return the soup to the pot. Add the cream, salt, white pepper and remaining butter to taste.

Bring soup to a simmer then remove from heat. Allow the soup to cool for two hours or overnight - in the refrigerator.

Divide the soup among six 8-ounce oven-proof soup cups or bowls. Roll out the puff pastry to 1/4 inch. Cut into 6 rounds slightly larger than your cups. Paint the dough with the egg wash and turn the circles, egg wash side down, over the tops of the cups, pulling lightly on the sides to make the dough somewhat tight like a drum. Try not to allow the dough to touch the soup.

These may be made up to 24 hours in advance and covered with plastic in the refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 450-degrees. Lightly paint the top of the dough rounds with egg wash with out pushing the dough down. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the dough is golden brown. Do not open the oven in the first several minutes of cooking as the dough may fall.

Serve immediately.

Always Enjoy!