My Mom's Tomato Soup

Last post I mentioned a relationship between my dad and me, this time I will talk about my mom for a little bit. My mom is a clean freak-hahaha yes she is. It's good and bad. Their house is organized and clean. It's bad when she asks me to help her clean the house so often!

I've realized that motherhood is a hard job and requires quite a lot of scarifice. At my age, motherhood time is soon approaching and it makes me think back to the experience with my mom. We hang out, we shop, we cook, and we talk like other mother-daughter relationships. She has done a lot for our family and I have to say she's very patient. She's at the age where it is time for extended family.  So, no doubt that every time when she calls, the most non-stop repeated question is when will I give her a grandchild!? Oh gosh mom, please stop.

My mom is a great cook. I learned a lot from her and I feel fortunate for that experience. Her food is a mix between Vietnamese and Thai. This tomato soup is one of my favorites. I have to request this soup every time I see her. I'm glad that now it's Keith's and my friends' favorite! The soup is so simple that it's hard to believe this is it for the ingredients! I changed a tiny ingredient to suit my taste buds. We also recommend using fresh Roma tomatoes. Roma tomatoes are meatier and sweeter than other tomatoes (at least in my opinion). They're also good for making sauce. You could make this as a first course soup or even a meal by adding pasta, rice, or noodles at your choice.

Fried shallots are one of the key ingredients. They add flavor and aromatic scent. I tend to overdose fried shallots in my bowl! I hope you like it. My mom would be proud of me! (teehee)

I know it's Summer and might be hard to take on a hot soup. However, all the ingredients are very accesible especially at farmers markets. If you have a chance or crave chucky hot soup, this dish is a must to try!

My Mom's Tomato Soup
Yield: 6 first course soup

Ingredients:
7-8 fresh Roma tomatoes, cut quarterly
3 medium shallots, thinly sliced
2 Tbs vegetable oil
1 lbs of ground meat at your choice (I like to use ground pork)
1, 8 oz. package of firm tofu, cut in cubes
4 cups chicken stock
1 Tbs kosher salt (add more if needed)
1/4 Tbs black pepper
Chili flakes (optional)
1/2 cup chopped green onion and cilantro

beautiful Roma tomatoes from farmers market in my hood

Directions:

• Heat up large pot on medium high heat. Add oil; swirl to coat.
• Add shallots. Cook until brown.
• Add meat and cook until brown and cooked through.
• Add tomatoes. This will take a while about half hour. Cook until tomato meat is smushy and starts to turn to soup. Season with salt and pepper. Cover lid as needed.
• Add chicken soup. Adjusting seasoning (salt, pepper, chili flakes if using)
• Bring it to boil. Add tofu and let it simmer for another 10-15 mins.
• Turn off the heat and add chopped green onion and cilantro.
• Serve as a soup or eat with rice or bread.

Brown shallots. The smell is incredible good!

Add ground pork

Then tomatoes

Cook until tomatoes are smoochy and turn to tomato soup

It will look like this

Add chicken stock, tofu and cook in low heat for 15 mins. Add green onion and cilantro; turn off the heat and remove from heat

A finished soup witout fried shallots on top

Top with fried shallots (optional) and serve with your choice of pasta, noodles, rice, or even bread