“Tomato Soup and Grill Cheese Grows Up”

Tomato and Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Harrisa and Tahini & Grilled Cheese with Fresh Chili, Herb Paste and Bitter Greens

Featured Cocktail: Jack Of All Trades

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:

Soup:

1 small head cauliflower, cut into small florets and stem chopped

Non-aerosol olive oil

Salt and pepper

2 t ground cumin

1 t ground ginger

1 t ground coriander

2 T EVOO

1 Vidalia or white onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 quart vegetable stock or chicken bone broth 

1 can 28 ounces fire roasted crushed tomatoes

2 cups tomato sauce or passata

1-2 T harissa paste, to taste

¾ cup Tahini 

½ lemon

Grilled Cheese with Chili Herb Paste: 

Paste:

1 cup packed cilantro or parsley

2 scallions, coarsely chopped

1 jalapeno, seeded and coarsely chopped

1 shallot, coarsely chopped

Juice of 1 lime

Salt

Sandwich:

The paste will make up to 6 sandwiches.

2 slices per sandwich yellow sharp deli cut cheddar or vegan cheese slices (

A small handful per sandwich of Upland cress, watercress or wild arugula  

2 slices whole wheat bread (no sugar, read the label) or whole grain bread per sandwich  (no sugar, sliced)

Directions:

Soup: Preheat oven to 480.  Line a pan with foil and top with cauliflower, spray with oil and season with salt and pepper and dry spices, roast 20 minutes, turning once.

Heat a soup pot over medium heat with EVOO, 2 turns, add onions and salt and cover pot for about 5 minutes, add garlic, stir, add 1 cup water and raise heat to high and let it absorb into onions, forcing them along a bit.  Add stock and tomatoes and 1 T harissa to start, bring to boil, reduce heat a bit to keep at a bubble but not a splattering boil. 

When cauliflower is done, add to pot along with Tahini and use immersion blender to process, adjust Harissa to your liking and add juice of ½ lemon.

Paste and Sandwich: Pulse-chop the paste in food processor.

Heat a stainless or cast-iron pan over medium to medium-high heat or a panini press if you have.

Make sandwiches: bread spread with paste, cheese, greens, bread.  Press and toast sandwiches using a spatula or in a panini press.

Jack Of All Trades:

Applejack, Angostura, Lemon Juice, Cinnamon Simple Syrup, Club Soda, Collins Glass, Ice, Lemon Wheel and straw garnish.