TOMATO BISQUE WITH CASHEW CREAM

Tomato Bisque with Cashew Cream image

Provided by Trisha Yearwood

Time 9h10m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) vegan margarine, such as Earth Balance Buttery Spread
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
3 cloves garlic, smashed
5 cups vegetable stock
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
One 28-ounce can whole fire-roasted tomatoes, with their juices
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon picked fresh thyme leaves
1 bay leaf
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 cups Cashew Cream, recipe follows
2 cups whole raw cashews

Steps:

Place a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the margarine and stir until melted. Add the onion, carrot, celery and garlic and cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and continue cooking and stirring until the flour browns slightly, about 2 minutes.
Add the stock, tomatoes with their juices, parsley, thyme and bay leaf. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the Cashew Cream and continue to simmer for 10 minutes, taking care not to let the soup boil. Remove and discard the bay leaf.
Working in batches, pour the soup into a blender or food processor and blend on high for several minutes, until very smooth. Ladle into bowls and serve.
Put the cashews in a bowl and add cold water to cover them. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, drain the cashews and rinse under cold water. Put them in a blender with enough fresh cold water just to cover them. Blend on high for several minutes until smooth. Strain the cream through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any remaining bits of cashew. Store refrigerated for 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.