Pretty Pepper Soup Food

RAINBOW ROASTED PEPPER SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) , halve all peppers (remove seeds) and peel garlic.
• Place halved peppers, cut side up in shallow baking dish. Place one garlic clove in each half and squeeze lemon juice generously over peppers. Roast for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile pour vegetable broth into a 2 quart sauce pan and add fennel seeds. Bring to boil, cover and simmer.
• When peppers are done, remove from oven and set aside to cool. When cool enough to touch peel skin from peppers.
• Strain fennel seeds from broth and return to a boil. Add thyme and simmer 15 minutes, reducing amount of broth.
• Slice a 1 inch section from each color of pepper and cut into pieces. Set aside for later garnishing.
• In a blender, place remaining peppers, garlic and a 1/2 cup broth on blend just long enough to shred the peppers, but not puree them. You want to see the different colors. Pour the blended peppers into the broth and stir well. Add garlic salt and black pepper to taste, then add garnishing pepper pieces and enjoy. Do not boil or cook any longer as the colors will fade.

TRI-COLOUR SWEET PEPPER SOUP

Steps:

• NOTE: Directions are for the original Sweet Pepper Soup. Sometimes, however, I like to "mix things up". For my second version, I reduce the chicken broth to 4 cups, add 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes (I use Del Monte Petite Diced Tomatoes), 1-2 teaspoons of Dijon Mustard, and 1 cup of sour cream. It is a thicker, heartier soup that is equally enjoyable, just different.
• Melt one tablespoon of the butter over medium heat in a large Dutch Oven.
• Sweat the onions for 5 minutes until translucent and slightly yellow. I keep them covered during this process. If necessary, add additional tablespoon of butter so the onions do not burn.
• Add the three different coloured peppers, stirring well, to mix the soft onions and butter with the peppers. Set timer for 15 minutes; every 5 minutes, stir the peppers and onions and "taste test" the peppers to YOUR degree of doneness. We really enjoy a very soft pepper so it takes the full 15 minutes to achieve that texture.
• Add the six cups of chicken broth and the teaspoon of paprika and stir well, until combined. ( if using the can of diced tomatoes, use FOUR cups of chicken broth and the can of diced tomatoes).
• Bring the soup to a boil, reduce down to a simmer and cover. Every 5 minutes, gently stir the soup. Simmer for 30 minutes.
• If you choose to make this a richer soup, use an immersion stick blender to blend up the soup until it is coloured flecks of the peppers. Add the sour cream and Dijon mustard, stir well until heated. DO NOT BOIL!
• Serve immediately.

RED PEPPER SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, saute red peppers, carrots, onions, celery and garlic in oil until tender. , Stir in the broth, rice, thyme, salt, pepper and cayenne; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the vegetables and rice are tender. , Cool for 30 minutes. Puree in small batches in a blender; return to pan. Add red pepper flakes; heat through.

ROASTED RED PEPPER SOUP

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
• Roughly chop the red peppers and place in a large baking tray with peeled whole garlic cloves. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper then roast in the oven until slightly charred (around 40 minutes).
• Finely chop a white (yellow) onion and saute in a large pot with a little olive oil until translucent and soft. Once soft, add the roasted peppers and garlic, sun dried tomatoes and vegetable stock.
• Simmer for 10 minutes then turn off the heat and blend until completely smooth using an immersion blender. Taste for seasoning, I only add pepper because there's enough saltiness from the stock and sun dried tomatoes and pre seasoned peppers.
• Add a small splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice, stir and serve with a drizzle of creme fraiche and homemade pesto. Grab a hunk of crusty bread and dive in.

GOLDEN PEPPER SOUP

Steps:

• Bring stock to a boil in a small saucepan. Add saffron; stir to dissolve. Turn off heat; let infuse while proceeding.
• Heat butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onion and garlic; cook until they begin to soften, about 4 minutes. Add celery and bell peppers; cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until softened, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Add wine, and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has evaporated. Add infused chicken stock, salt, and cumin. Bring to a simmer, and cook until vegetables are very tender, about 10 minutes.
• Let soup cool slightly; puree, in batches if necessary, in a food processor or blender (do not fill blender more than halfway). Return to clean saucepan; stir in half-and-half or milk, and then reheat gently (do not boil; the mixture will curdle). Season with black pepper and cayenne to taste. Serve hot or chilled, garnished with sour cream.

CREAM OF RED BELL PEPPER SOUP

Steps:

• Char peppers over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Enclose in paper bag and let stand 10 minutes. Peel, seed and slice peppers. Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots, garlic and thyme and sauté 3 minutes. Add 3 cups broth and all but 4 slices of roasted pepper. Simmer uncovered until peppers are very soft, about 20 minutes.
• Working in batches, purée soup in blender until smooth. Return to same pot. Add half and half, vinegar and cayenne pepper. Rewarm soup, thinning with additional broth, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with reserved pepper strips and basil.