When is the last time you ate soup with your hands?
First, get out a spoon. This soup is good and we know you won’t want to wait.
Second, remember the resolution to prepare healthier meals for you and your family in 2012?
Third, continue this mission with pride and joy. Repeat as necessary.
This yummy, healthy (and beautiful) Roasted Red Pepper Soup is sure to keep you on track. We like that it’s low fat, low carb, low sodium and full of fantastic flavor. This is great for a family dinner and pairs wonderfully with salad, crostini, quinoa muffin and just about anything else! We recommend doubling the recipe so you can have this as a healthy option in your fridge…ready to go. It will heat up easily and is great as a lunch or snack. Plus, it’s loaded with vitamin C…sure to ward off those winter blues. Now, got spoon in hand?
Recipe: Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Ingredients
• 3 lbs. red bell peppers, halved and cleaned (8-10)
• 5 cloves garlic, in peel
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 2 Tb. olive oil
• 2 large sprigs fresh thyme (1 Tb. leaves)
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 cups chicken stock (or vegetable broth)
• 1 tsp. hot sauce
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. ground pepper
• 1-2 Tb. rice vinegar
Instructions
1. Half the peppers and remove all seeds and membranes. Press them flat with your hand and lay them on a foil lined, rimmed baking sheet. Place the garlic cloves on the baking sheet.
2. Set the oven on broil and raise the rack to the upper position. Broil the red peppers and garlic for 15 minutes.
3. Once the skin has blackened, remove from the oven and place in a large zip bag to steam. (10 minutes)
4. Preheat a large pot to medium heat. Add the oil, thyme, bay leaves, and onions. Cook for 10 minutes, until onions are soft.
5. Add the broth, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Squeeze the garlic cloves out of the peels into the pot.
6. Then peel the charred skin off each pepper half and place it in the pot.
7. Reduce the heat, cover and cook another 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Then, using a hand-held immersion blender or standard blender, blend until smooth. *If using a blender, BE SURE TO remove the plug on the lid and cover with a kitchen towel—this with allow the heat to vent without a big mess!
8. Add the vinegar and salt again if needed.
9. Serve with extra thyme leaves.
10. (optional) Thin out a little plain Greek yogurt with milk to make a fancy swirl on top.
Preparation time: 25 minute(s)
Cooking time: 45 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 6
Recipe provided by A Spicy Perspective