Numbing and Spicy Tomato Udon Soup Recipe

Making tomato soup from fresh tomatoes is not difficult at all. The final product offers a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, complemented by the bold impact of the spicy sauce. The taste buds are instantly captivated by the harmonious blend of tanginess, numbing spiciness, and rich flavors of the soup base.

What is Numbing and Spicy Tomato Soup?

Spicy tomato soup is characterised by its rich blend of tangy tomato flavours combined with the bold, numbing spiciness of the chilli, creating a dish with layers of depth and complexity. The natural sweetness and acidity of the tomatoes are fully released in the broth, enhanced by the numbing sensation and heat from the spicy sauce. This soup delivers both a warm, intense kick and the refreshing, sweet notes of the tomatoes, making it both appetising and satisfying. It's perfect for those who enjoy challenging their taste buds with bold flavours.

Sautéing tomatoes is a crucial step in making spicy tomato soup because it helps release more aroma and flavour from the tomatoes.

Why is it necessary to sauté the tomatoes?

Sautéing tomatoes is a crucial step in making spicy tomato soup because it helps release more aroma and flavour from the tomatoes, enhancing the soup’s depth and complexity. When tomatoes are sautéed, their natural sugars caramelise due to the heat, which accentuates their sweetness. This helps balance the spiciness of the soup, creating a more harmonious flavour. Additionally, sautéing reduces the acidity of the tomatoes, preventing the overly sour taste that raw tomatoes might bring. This step also softens the tomatoes, providing a solid foundation for the next phase of cooking, resulting in a richer, more flavourful broth.

Easy Numbing and Spicy Tomato Udon Soup

This Numbing and Spicy Tomato Udon Soup is very simple to make. Start by sautéing the chopped tomatoes to release their natural sweet and tangy flavours. Then, add spicy sauce, water or broth, and a small amount of sugar to enhance the tomatoes' sweetness. Bring the mixture to a boil, allowing the tomatoes to gradually soften and enrich the soup base. For a quicker method, you can use a blender to puree the tomatoes, which helps them instantly combine with the broth, speeding up the process of making the spicy tomato soup.

In this version, I made a vegetarian option, but you can customize it by adding various ingredients according to your preference, such as eggs, pork, or beef.

Ingredients (serve 2)

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Basic Ingredients

Udon	2 each
Shiitake Mushroom	6 each
Selected Vegetable	At your own choice
Sesame Oil	to taste

Spicy Tomato Soup

Tomato	3 each (700g)
Onion	½ each (100g)
Sichuan Style Chilli Sauce	2 tsp
Tomato Paste	2 tsp
Vegetable Stock	500ml
Water	500ml
Sugar	30g

Steps

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1. Finely chop the onion; dice the tomatoes; score a cross on the surface of the fresh shiitake mushrooms; wash the napa cabbage (you can choose other vegetables based on your preference).

2. Heat a pot over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of oil. Sauté the onion until soft (as shown in the small picture), about 3 minutes. Then, add the diced tomatoes and stir-fry for 5-6 minutes until they become soft and release their juices.

3. Once the tomatoes are soft and have released their juices, add the tomato paste and spicy sauce (as shown in the small picture). Mix well and continue to stir-fry for 3-4 minutes.

4. If you don't have a blender, use a potato masher or another flat tool to mash the tomatoes until smooth. If you have a blender, you can skip this step and proceed to the next one.

5. Add 500 ml of water and 500 ml of vegetable broth, along with 30 grams of granulated sugar (as shown in the small picture). Mix well and bring to a boil.

6. Use a blender to puree the tomato soup until smooth. Continue to cook for an additional 10-15 minutes until it thickens. (If you don’t have a blender, just cook for 15 minutes after adding the sugar until it reaches the desired consistency.)

7. Cook the udon and other vegetables until tender, then add them to the tomato soup. Drizzle a few drops of sesame oil to enhance the aroma, and it’s ready to enjoy.