The particular joy of these sandwiches lies in their soft, quiet flavors: a thin layer of mayonnaise spread on the inside of the bread heats with the mozzarella, a mild cheesy cheese, and when done right, this age-old combination can be exactly what you want. Here, the cooking is as simple as the eating: While you start the soup in a pot with a can of tomatoes and little more than onion and butter (in the style of Marcella Hazan’s famous tomato sauce), you assemble
Classic grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup
Tomato Grilled-Cheese Soup 🔗
Try pouring the soup directly over the sliced sandwich for an irresistible cheesy bread soup.
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, plus ½ cup (1 stick) at room temperature, divided
- 1 medium red onion, chopped
- Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 28-oz. cans crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 16 slices Pullman loaf
- 16 ounces cheddar, grated
Instruction:
- Heat 4 Tbsp. butter in a Dutch oven or medium stockpot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened and lightly browned around the edges, 8–10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring to coat onion, until tomato paste is slightly darkened in color, about 2 minutes. Add canned tomatoes, vegetable broth, thyme, bay leaf, and sugar and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper and cook until flavors are melded, 35–40 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cream. Remove thyme stems and bay leaf and let cool slightly. Working in batches, purée in a blender until smooth.
- Heat a dry skillet, preferably cast-iron, over medium heat. Dividing evenly, spread room-temperature butter over bread slices. Top unbuttered side of 8 slices with cheddar, dividing evenly. Top with remaining bread, buttered side up, and cook, turning once, until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted, about 3 minutes per side. Cut sandwiches into soldiers and serve alongside hot soup for dipping.
FAQ
Why does grilled cheese go with tomato soup?
A classic grilled cheese would of course be made with Cheddar on white bread, and after WWII the sandwiches found a home in school lunch programs, and tomato soup joined the menu for the added Vitamin C. Generations of kids who grew up eating them added to the nostalgia for this combination.
Is grilled cheese and tomato soup a healthy meal?
A grilled cheese sandwich that is golden brown and oozing with cheese, along with a steaming hot bowl of your favorite tomato soup, is the ultimate dinner dish.
What sandwich goes with tomato soup?
Conclusion: A can of tomato soup with a traditional grilled cheese sandwich offers basic nutrition but can also be rather high in salt. While it isn’t the healthiest meal for you, it certainly isn’t the worst either.