“Lucci was heartened; there was still good in the world, perhaps. Then he smelled a smell that made him heady, crêpes, and he could isolate each of the ingredients as he never could before: butter, sugar, flour, milk, even a little rum. He felt the ground until he found the plate, and pressed his fingers into a soft stack two inches high.”
-Lauren Groff, Delicate Edible Birds
Spicy Sun Dried Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese with Bacon, Basil and Havarti
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_ _ Delicious. I wish it was cold out so I could let the soup warm me nicely, instead of causing me to wipe the dripping sweat off my face while making it.
Servings: about 4
Ingredients:
FOR THE SOUP:
1/2 Yellow Onion, chopped
1/2 clove Garlic, finely chopped
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1/3 cup Sun Dried Tomatoes (oil packed)
1 cup (heaping) Canned Tomatoes (chopped and skinned)
1/3 cup Tomato Juices (from the canned tomatoes)
1 tbsp Tomato Paste
1/8 tsp Dried Thyme
2 cups Chicken Stock (or vegetable stock if you want to make it vegetarian)
1-4 tsp Hot Sauce
2 tbsp Heavy Cream
Salt and Pepper to taste
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FOR THE SANDWICHES:
8 slices Artisan Bread (I used an asiago cheese-bread)
2 tbsp Butter
1 cup (heaping) Havarti Cheese, grated
3 slices Thick-Cut Bacon, chopped
4-5 leaves Basil, sliced into strips
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1. Sautee the onions in a large pan with the olive oil for a couple of minutes until they start to get translucent. Add the garlic and sautee for another minute.
2. Add the sun dried tomatoes, canned tomatoes, tomato paste and thyme and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the tomato juice, chicken broth and hot sauce (however much you want) and bring to a low boil. Boil for about 15-20 minutes until all the vegetables are very soft.
3. Transfer the vegetables and juices to a blender and puree until smooth. Return the soup to the pan and add salt and pepper to taste, and the heavy cream- stir together. Keep the pan over low heat while making the sandwiches.
4. Melt the butter for the sandwiches in a small bowl and then brush it on one side of each of the bread slices.
5. Sautee the bacon in a small pan until crispy, remove from the pan with a spoon and discard the fat.
6. On a heated griddle or sautee pan, place 4 of the bread slices butter-side down. Layer cheese, bacon and basil on each slice and then top with another slice of bread. Carefully flip the sandwiches occasionally until the bread on both sides is a dark golden brown and the cheese has melted.
LIFE SHOULD TASTE GOOD... cooking for an army of two 
What is this Harvati cheese you keep using? I am ashamed to not know of it, while professing to be an avid cheese lover! Is it like a parmesan/asiago type cheese? Or more of a swiss? I must try it!
Havarti has become my new obsession… plus I bought a bunch and needed to find ways to use it up haha. It’s a very creamy cheese, so it melts really well but it has a sharpness almost like cheddar sooo basically it’s my new go-to cheese! You should try it 🙂
This looks so good… I am making this tonight
Mmmmm this is my kind of food. I’ve never heard of Havarti either, I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for that, always up for trying a new cheese.
I had never eaten it before, but when I saw it at the grocery store I decided to try it and I’m so glad I did! I’ve only tried the plain havarti, but I’ve seen it with jalapenos added and my friend just bought me some (because I kept talking about it) with dill that I can’t wait to use.
Sun dried tomato soup? WOW! I looooooooooove sun dried tomatoes, but have never seen it put into a soup!!! This is exciting!!
But can I ask one thing? Why is it that it needs to be ‘canned’ tomatoes? I always try to use fresh…but if you feel it tastes better, I’d like to know. 🙂
Hi MEmneina! There’s no real reason that I used canned, other than the recipe that I based this version on used them… I like fresh tomatoes too so if you try it, let me know how it tastes! I did use some of the juice from the canned tomatoes, but you could try adding more stock to keep the consistency soupy, or even add some V8 juice? Just some ideas 🙂
I’m with you MEmneina… I too LOVE sun dried tomatoes. I will be trying this recipe in the fall for sure!
This is so good on a cold day for lunch or dinner. I have made it for both and every time it is welcomed by all. It is tasty, easy to make, and everyone likes it – what more could I ask for? I thank you for sharing your recipe!
I’m so glad you like it! It’s definitely great for those chilly days