Lisa Allen, head chef at Michelin-starred restaurant Northcote, uses the best local ingredients for this elegant soup
Prep:40 mins
Serves 6
For the tomato consomme3kg ripe plum tomato, quartered175ml white wine750ml tomato juice3 garlic cloves, sliced2 large shallots, finely diced2 tsp salt1 ½ tsp caster sugarfresh picked herb leaves and small sprigs, such as chervil, baby basil, baby sorrel, snipped chives and small salad leaves, to serve
STEP 1Put the tomatoes for the consommé into a very large saucepan. Add the remaining consommé ingredients, except the herbs and leaves, then simmer on a low heat for 2 hrs.STEP 2Line a large sieve with cheesecloth. Set it over a very large bowl, then carefully pour the liquid through. Leave to slowly drain but, to ensure the consommé stays clear, do not press tomatoes. Set aside. (The tomatoes can be puréed to make a sauce for pasta, then frozen for later use.)STEP 3Put tomatoes for marinating into a small bowl. Squeeze over a little lemon juice, dust with the icing sugar and 2 pinches of salt, then pour over the 2 tsp oil. Marinate briefly while you prepare the cheese on toast.STEP 4Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Melt the 25g butter in a medium pan, add the flour, then stir for 2-3 mins over a low heat to cook the flour. Remove from heat, then gradually stir in milk. Return to the heat and stir briefly until thickened to a thick paste. Stir in the cheese, beating well until it has melted to a smooth paste. Take off the heat, beat in the egg yolk, then set aside. In a small pan, bring the ale, mustard and Worcestershire sauce to a boil, then bubble over a high heat for 8-10 mins until reduced to a thick consistency (you should have about 1 tbsp thick liquid). Stir this into the cheese mixture, cover and cool. Melt the 15g butter. Brush one side of each bread slice with the butter, lay them on a baking sheet, butter-side up, then season with salt. Bake for 10-12 mins until golden and crisp. (Both sauce and toasted bread can be prepared a day ahead. Chill sauce until required, keep toast wrapped in foil.)STEP 5To serve, heat the grill. Spread the cheese mix thickly and evenly over each slice of toast (you will have some left over for another time), then lay them on a baking tray. Grill until golden. Meanwhile, gently heat the consommé. Place 3 marinated tomatoes in the bottom of each serving bowl. Scatter a few herbs on top of the tomatoes, then drizzle around a little olive oil. Pour in enough consommé to just cover the tomatoes, then scatter over a few more herbs and leaves. Serve with the hot cheese on toast on the side.
