3 big ripe tomatoes
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 small red pepper (I used canned ones), chopped
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
3 tablespoons tomato puree (optional)
salt and pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup basil leaves OR 2 tablespoons dried basil
1 cup small pasta (cheese tortellini is great)
a few basil leaves to decorate
Cook pasta with salted water till tender, drain. To peel tomatoes, cut a small cross on top of each and toss into boiling water, cover 2 minutes. Remove and put into ice cold water. Peel. Cut peeled tomatoes in small pieces.
Heat oil in a pot, add onion, garlic, and red pepper and cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Add tomatoes and cook for another 10 minutes. Add stock and tomato puree, sugar, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, add basil and cool. Put in a blender or use hand mixer on this. Heat again. Add cooked pasta. Serve and decorate with basil leaves.