Fall

Tomato Soup and Saint-André Waffled Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

October  5, 2014
3
7 Ratings
Photo by Mark Weinberg
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

Faced with an abundance of seasonal farm-grown produce, I couldn’t resist making this fragrant soup to celebrate the season. Sweet, tart, and earthy, this bisque offers a warming blend of heirloom tomatoes, cream, and fresh herbs. Serve it with crunchy, waffled grilled cheese sandwiches on the side. —Feed Me Dearly

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: Feed Me Dearly lives in New York with her husband, 2 kids, and 400 cookbooks.
WHAT: A spin on a classic summertime lunch.
HOW: Make a tomato soup from a generous helping of cream, onion, chicken broth, and heirloom tomatoes. As it simmers, sandwich Saint-André cheese between white sandwich bread and grill it in a waffle maker. Dip away.
WHY WE LOVE IT: As grilled cheese aficionados, it takes something special to catch our eye, but this version, with its crispy edges, golden-brown, thin shell, and buttery cheese waffled its way into our hearts—and stomachs. —The Editors

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Ingredients
  • For the tomato soup:
  • 1 small diced onion
  • 6 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 tablespoon fresh, chopped oregano
  • 2 pounds heirloom tomatoes, chopped
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • For the grilled cheese sandwiches:
  • 12 ounces Saint-André cheese, chilled
  • 16 slices of white sandwich bread
  • 4 ounces butter
Directions
  1. For the tomato soup:
  2. In a large pot, sauté the onion in 4 tablespoons of the butter, and add the salt and oregano until translucent, about 4 minutes.
  3. Add in the chopped tomatoes and chicken broth and bring to a simmer.
  4. While the tomatoes and broth come to a simmer, prepare a roux in a separate small saucepan. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, then add the flour. Stirring for a few minutes until the flour just starts to brown.
  5. Add the cream and half-and-half, stirring constantly until just simmering. With the heat on low, cook the mixture for 20 minutes, covered. Add the mixture into the pot with the tomatoes.
  6. Add the ground cloves and purée the soup with an immersion blender.
  7. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper, and serve with the waffled grilled cheese sandwiches.
  8. Note: If the tomato soup ends up separating, just re-blend it with your immersion blender.
  1. For the grilled cheese sandwiches:
  2. Cut the chilled Saint-André cheese into 1/2 inch to 1/4 inch slices and divide it evenly between it in between the half of the slices of sandwich bread. Top each cheesy half with another slice.
  3. Butter each side of the sandwich and grill it inside a waffle iron until the bread is nice and golden, about 2 minutes.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

12 Reviews

Ruth January 29, 2023
I have not made this but I read the recipe through 3 times. Based on the ingredients and the methodology, this recipe will produce a lackluster and disappointing meal. The volume of some of the ingredients are off, i.e. cream and bread slices. This supposedly serves 4, yet makes 8 sandwiches. I really wanted to like this recipe but I'll stick with my tried and true homemade tomato soup recipe and grilled cheese.
Shines January 23, 2023
Love the concepts in this recipe. Based on the recipe pic, I was concerned about the amount of cream and half and half, and I’m glad I read the reviews. I ended up doing half the dairy, adding two cans of diced tomatoes (drained), and doing the lightest pinch of clove. Was plenty flavorful and rich. I tend to agree that the St. Andre didn’t add much in flavor profile, but quite a lot in cleanup. I added a sliced mild cheese that I had on hand (Muenster) just to hold things together.
Arthur G. May 25, 2020
I really don't think the St Andre grilled sandwiches can possibly work. Has this recipe even been tested?
Karen January 8, 2019
I wanted to love this recipe - the reviews were so nice, but it is bland and tasteless. After making it, I thought I must have missed something or mis-measured, but I went back and checked and nope, I did not. Perhaps it was my tomatoes, but the amount of dairy just dulls down the flavors and all you end up tasting is milky clove. The Saint Andre was also pretty flavorless and my waffle iron was drowning in oil. Love the suggestion of using gruyere instead. Sorry but no!
Bri L. December 9, 2018
Oh dear...a beautifully ripe St André is butter around a just slightly solidified (and funkier tasting) cream. Nothing will keep this beauty from running—freezing or cooking it is tantamount to cheese abuse. Use a good 7 yr old cheddar...or a 1 yr raw milk, or a gruyere...but one that is better suited to the job at hand.
Moushumi January 29, 2017
looks so yummy...
Courtney C. February 11, 2016
These were quite good. I loved the soup though I had some difficulty with the sandwiches. The cheese completely melted out of them in the waffle iron. Any suggestions to keep that from happening next time? The cheese was St. Andre and it was chilled prior to cooking. Thanks!
Feed M. February 11, 2016
could you try freezing the cheese for 20 minutes beforehand? Enough to get it really cold. I had some leakage, but most of the cheese stayed in, some cheeses are more ripe and liquid than others. Hope that helps! (jessica)
Courtney C. February 11, 2016
Thanks so much for the quick reply! I'll definitely try freezing next time. The cheese that I bought was very creamy, so that was probably the issue. Still delicious though - thanks!
Lisa September 19, 2015
Loved the waffle grilled cheese .. Is there a trick to cleaning the iron afterwards?
Feed M. September 25, 2015
I usually just unplug the iron, and throw a damp cloth in there, close the iron, and any leftover cheese just steams itself off; wipedown is pretty easy...
Caitlin G. July 23, 2015
this looks heavenly. will definitely give'r a try!