Fresh-Tomato Soup Au Gratin

Ingredients

• Soup:
• 1 teaspoon butter or stick margarine
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 5 cups chopped seeded tomato (about 2 3/4 pounds)
• 2 cups 1% low-fat milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Dash of black pepper
• Croutons:
• 1 garlic clove, cut in half
• 2 (1-ounce) slices diagonally cut French bread (about 1 inch thick)
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack or reduced-fat, reduced-sodium Swiss cheese (such as Alpine Lace)

Preparation

1. To prepare soup, melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add tomato; cook, covered, over medium heat 10 minutes. Uncover; cook until mixture is reduced to 2 cups (about 25 minutes), stirring occasionally.
2. Place the tomato mixture in a blender, and process until smooth. Combine the tomato mixture, milk, salt, and pepper in pan, and cook mixture over medium-low heat 2 minutes or until heated.
3. Preheat broiler.
4. To prepare croutons, rub cut sides of garlic over both sides of each bread slice; place bread on a baking sheet. Broil 30 seconds on each side or until toasted. Cut each slice in half crosswise. Place 1 cup soup in each of 4 ovenproof bowls; top each serving with 1 crouton and 2 tablespoons cheese. Broil 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.