Jamie Oliver’s Comforting Tomato and Rice Soup: A Recipe Straight from Dad’s Kitchen

Craving a warm and comforting meal that’s perfect for the colder months? Look no further than Jamie Oliver’s beloved tomato and rice soup, a recipe straight from his dad’s kitchen. This dish, lovingly dubbed Baba’s Domatesli Pirinç Çorbası (Dad’s Tomato & Rice Soup), is a testament to the simple pleasures of home cooking.

Jamie’s dad, a true culinary master, concocted this soup with just a handful of fresh ingredients and pantry staples. It’s a tribute to Cypriot cuisine, where rice is a key ingredient in many soups and a squeeze of lemon juice is essential for that bright, tangy flavor.

This soup is surprisingly simple to make, requiring only five steps to achieve a delicious result. The recipe serves four people, making it ideal for a cozy family meal or a comforting lunch.

Here’s how to recreate this heartwarming soup:

Ingredients:

* 200g (7 oz) short-grain white rice
* Six large tomatoes
* 50ml (Two fl oz) olive oil
* One large onion, finely chopped
* One vegetable stock cube
* 500ml (18 fl oz) boiling water
* 1.5 litres (21⁄2 pints) cold water
* 25g (One oz) fresh parsley, finely chopped
* 1⁄2 teaspoon paprika
* 1⁄2 teaspoon caster sugar
* 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
* One teaspoon of black pepper
* Two tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus extra to taste

Method:

1.

Prepare the rice:

Wash the rice in a sieve with cold water until the water runs clear. Leave to drain.
2.

Prepare the tomatoes:

Place the tomatoes in a deep heatproof bowl. Pour boiling water over them to cover and leave for a minute or two. Remove the tomatoes from the bowl, peel off the skins, discard them, and finely chop the tomato flesh.
3.

Soften the onions:

Pour the olive oil into a large pan and place over a medium heat. Add the onion and soften for 10–12 minutes until lightly caramelized.
4.

Cook the soup:

While the onion is cooking, dissolve the stock cube in the boiling water, then top it up with the cold water. Stir the parsley, paprika, and chopped tomatoes into the caramelized onions and let everything sizzle for a minute or two. Add the rice, stirring well to coat it in the tomatoes and onions. Sprinkle in the sugar, then gently pour in the stock and season with salt and pepper. Allow the soup to simmer over medium heat for around 10 minutes until the rice is cooked.
5.

Finish and serve:

Add the lemon juice a couple of minutes before removing the pan from the heat. Serve hot with crusty bread, adding a little more lemon juice to taste.

This simple recipe captures the essence of home cooking – a comforting, flavorful meal made with love and shared with loved ones. Enjoy!