- 6 tomatoes on the vine, halved widthways
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, roughly chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 2 long red chillies, finely sliced
- 1 tbsp tomato purée
- 2kg/4lb 4oz ripe, mixed tomatoes, roughly chopped
- handful fresh coriander leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 litre/1¾ pints chicken or vegetable stock
- 2-3 tbsp caster sugar
- 75ml/3fl oz double cream
- 4 tbsp crème fraîche
- For the roasted tomatoes, preheat the oven to 150C/300F/Gas 1.
- Place the tomatoes, cut-side up, onto a roasting tray and drizzle with the olive oil. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper then scatter the thyme on top.
- Roast in the oven for 4-6 hours, or until slightly dried out.
- Turn the oven off and allow to cool, preferably overnight, in the oven.
- For the soup, heat the olive oil in a frying pan until hot and fry the onions for 2-3 minutes, or until just softened.
- Add the garlic, chillies, tomato paste and tomatoes and fry for another 2-3 minutes.
- Add three-quarters of the coriander and the stock, bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Blend in a blender to a purée.
- Return the soup to the pan and season, to taste, with salt, freshly ground black pepper and sugar. Stir in the cream and simmer for one minute.
- To serve, ladle the soup into serving bowls. Top with some roasted tomatoes and a spoonful of crème fraîche; drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle over the coriander.