This quick oatmeal soup is made with a base of caramelized onions and tomato paste, along with vegetable or chicken stock. It's a quick soup that uses rolled oats, needs only a few ingredients, and results in a silky soup that's quite addictive!
Place a medium sized soup pot on medium heat and add the olive oil. Allow the olive oil to heat up for a few minutes, then add the finely diced onions. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes until lightly golden. Add the minced garlic and all the spices. Stir and cook for another minute.
Move the onions aside in the pot and add the tomato paste. Stir the paste into the base of the pot to caramelize it for a few seconds. Then, combine it with the onions and garlic.
Add the chicken stock (or vegetable stock), the chopped tomatoes, and the rolled oats. Stir well. Cover and simmer the soup on medium low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper. You can also adjust the thickness of the soup to your preference by adding more water or by allowing it to further simmer and thicken. Note that it will thicken more as it cools.
To serve, ladle into bowls and garnish with chopped parsley and dried chili flakes if desired.
Notes
Since this soup is quick and doesn't contain meat, there are three key steps to add lots of flavour:
Make sure you soften the onions well until lightly golden.
Make sure you caramelize the tomato paste well to add depth.
Use a flavourful chicken or vegetable stock instead of water.