Roasted Tomato And Fennel Soup

• Roasted Tomato and Fennel Soup
• 1 pound smallish late-season tomatoes, halved and cored
• 2 cups thinly sliced fennel bulb, fronds reserved
• Kosher salt
• extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 4 cups light chicken or vegetable stock or broth, or water
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• croutons, for serving
• fennel oil, for serving
• Fennel Oil
• 1 cup fennel fronds, loosely packed
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Toss the tomatoes and sliced fennel separately with a little salt and olive oil to coat. Lay them out on one large or two small baking sheets in a single layer, and roast for 25-30 minutes.
3. Melt the butter in a pot and add the shallot and thyme. Add a pinch of salt and cook until the shallot is translucent. Add the stock, broth, or water, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer.
4. Transfer the roasted vegetables into the pot, being sure to scrape up all of their juices and as much of the caramelized brown bits from the baking sheet(s) (tip: add a little of your hot broth to help loosen it up).
5. Off the heat, puree the soup with a stick blender (or puree in batches to a food processor or regular blender) until smooth.
6. Slowly stir in the cream and return the pot to the stove over low heat. Cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, tasting and adjusting the seasoning if necessary.
7. Ladle into bowls and top with a few croutons and a drizzle of fennel oil. Top each portion with a feathery fennel frond, and serve.
8. Place the fennel fronds in the small bowl of a food processor and pulse, drizzling in the oil while the blade is running. Scrape into a strainer set over a bowl and press down to extract the oil.

tomato, tomatoes, fennel bulb, kosher salt, extra virgin olive oil, unsalted butter, shallot, thyme, light chicken, heavy cream, croutons, fennel oil, fennel oil, fennel, extra virgin olive oil

Taken from food52.com/recipes/1762-roasted-tomato-and-fennel-soup (may not work)