Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Creamy Tomato-Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

• 2 celery (washed, dried, trimmed, and thinly sliced crosswise)
• 32 fl oz chicken or vegetable broth
• 8 fl oz heavy whipping cream
• 24 oz marinara sauce (1 jar)
• 10 oz shredded carrots (1 bag)
• 1 cup shredded cheese, Italian blend
• 8 slices whole grain bread
• butter, unsalted (For coating the pot and skillet, and for cooking the sandwiches; amount unspecified)
• salt (To taste; amount unspecified)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat a large pot over medium heat.

2. 2

   While the pot heats, wash, dry, trim, and thinly slice the celery crosswise.

3. 3

   Once the pot is hot, add butter and swirl to coat the bottom.

4. 4

   Add the sliced celery and shredded carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 2–3 minutes.

5. 5

   Add the broth, marinara sauce, and salt to the pot. Stir to combine and bring the soup to a boil over medium-high heat.

6. 6

   Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the flavors blend, 8–10 minutes.

7. 7

   Meanwhile, preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat.

8. 8

   While the skillet heats, place the bread slices on a flat surface. Top half of the slices with the shredded cheese, then cover with the remaining bread slices to form sandwiches.

9. 9

   Once the skillet is hot, add butter and swirl to coat the bottom.

10. 10

    Place the sandwiches in the skillet and cook until the bottoms are golden brown, 2–4 minutes.

11. 11

    Remove the sandwiches to a plate and add more butter to the skillet.

12. 12

    Return the sandwiches to the skillet, browned-side up, and cook until the second sides are golden brown and the cheese is melted, 2–4 minutes more.

13. 13

    Transfer the sandwiches to a cutting board and slice each in half.

14. 14

    When the soup is done, add the cream and stir to combine. Remove the soup from the heat.

15. 15

    Divide the soup between bowls and serve with the grilled cheese sandwiches on the side.

Notes

The source does not specify the amount of butter or salt; add them according to taste and cooking needs.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• soup
• sandwich
• vegetarian option
• comfort food
• stovetop
• 20-minute meal