Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Tomato Soup

• 4 garlic cloves
  o bien 4 cloves roasted garlic, homemade
• 2 ½ oz shallots, in pieces
  o bien 2 ½ oz yellow onions, in pieces
• ½ oz extra virgin olive oil
• 18 oz ripe tomatoes, quartered (see Tip)
• ½ oz tomato paste
• 8 - 12 oz vegetable stock, (optional)
• ½ - 1 tsp smoked paprika, to taste
• 1 - 2 tsp sugar, to taste
• 1 tsp salt, to taste
• ½ tsp ground black pepper, to taste
  o bien ¼ tsp white pepper, to taste
• 6 fresh basil leaves, plus extra to garnish

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

• 8 oz aged sharp cheddar cheese, cut into pieces
• 8 slices sourdough bread
• 2 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, to fry
• dried red chili flakes, to garnish