Golden Tomato Soup with Fennel

 

2 cups ( 3/4-inch) cubes bread, crusts removed

1 clove garlic

2 T. chopped red onion

2 pounds golden tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup chopped fennel (about 1/2 bulb)

Lemon juice, divided

1 T. red wine vinegar

Dash pimenton de la vera, or paprika

1/4 tsp. ground cumin (I left this out)

Salt

1/4 cup plus 1 tsp. olive oil, divided

1 cup ice water

1/2 cup finely diced fennel (about 1/2 bulb), for garnish

3 tsp. minced fennel fronds, for garnish

 

Place the bread in a bowl and add enough water to cover. Let stand at least 30 minutes to soften. Squeeze the bread dry and put it in the blender with the garlic, onion, tomatoes and the chopped fennel. Purée until smooth. Add the juice of half a lemon, the vinegar, pimenton, cumin and 1 tsp. of salt and purée again. With the motor running, in batches if necessary, gradually add the one-fourth cup oil and the ice water. Chill well. In a small bowl, stir together the finely diced fennel and the minced fronds. Moisten with the remaining 1 tsp. of oil and season with a couple drops of lemon juice and a sprinkling of salt. Before serving, stir the purée through a fine mesh strainer if you want a perfectly smooth soup. Otherwise, whisk it to gently reincorporate anything that might have separated. Taste and add more salt if necessary. Divide evenly among 4 to 6 chilled soup bowls and garnish with 1 to 2 T. of the diced fennel mixture before serving.