Puree the canned tomatoes in a blender. Heat the Olive Oils in a heavy 4-quart pot and sauté the ginger and onion. Add the cumin and cook for about 1 minute. Mix into the pot the pureed tomatoes, the chicken broth, and salt and sugar to taste. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Run the soup through a blender in small batches (use caution when blending hot liquids). Filter the soup through a course sieve and discard the seeds.  Garnish with fresh basil, if desired.

Buon appetito,
Mario

Adapted from Gourmet Magazine