Big Red Soup Food

BIG BATCH RED LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Warm oil in a very big pot over medium heat. Add onion & cook 3 minutes. Add sweet peppers, hot peppers, carrots, garlic, oregano, cumin & coriander, (which I cuisinart all together), and cook 10 minute or until veggies are soft, stirring often.
• Add lentils, broth, tomatoes with their liquid and the water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 to 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in the salt and cayenne.
• Remove about 1/2 of the soup and CAREFULLY puree in batches in a food processor or blender (blender works better) by pulsing off and on. (WATCH IT! VERY HOT!)
• Stir puree back into soup in the pot. Taste and correct seasonings if necessary. Stir in the fresh parsley.
• For the Zesty Lime Cream: Combine the sour cream, lime juice and zest in a small bowl. Stir well.
• Serve soup with a dollop of the Zesty Lime Cream floating on top.

CREAMY RED PEPPER SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions, carrots, garlic, and thyme and saute until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the broth, bell peppers, potato, wine, and sugar. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Decrease the heat to medium-low. Partially cover and simmer until the potatoes are very tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Cool the soup slightly.
• Using an immersion hand blender, puree the soup in the pot until it is smooth. Alternately, working in batches, puree the soup in a regular blender, taking care while blending warm liquids. Season the soup, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the bread cubes and saute until they are crisp and golden, about 8 minutes.
• Ladle the soup into bowls. Dollop a tablespoon of mascarpone in the center of each bowl and top with croutons. Sprinkle with pepper and serve.