Why roasted pepper soup is so popular
Making roasted pepper soup at home is much better than buying a tinned version. The roasting process brings out the natural sweetness of the peppers and gives them a smoky taste. You can easily adjust the thickness by adding more or less vegetable stock. This recipe is simple to follow and uses basic ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
Step by step: roasted pepper soup
Roast vegetables: Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. Slice the peppers and onions into large chunks and place them on a baking tray with the garlic cloves. Drizzle with olive oil and roast for 25 minutes until the skins are soft.
Peel and simmer: Remove the tray from the oven and let the vegetables cool slightly. Squeeze the garlic out of its skin and put everything into a large saucepan. Pour in the vegetable stock and add the dried thyme.
Blend: Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and then turn down the heat to simmer for 10 minutes. Use a stick blender to process the soup until it is completely smooth. You can add a splash of water if the consistency is too thick.
Season and serve: Add salt and pepper to taste and stir the soup well. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and serve with a piece of crusty bread. You can add a drizzle of olive oil or some fresh herbs on top.
Useful tips for roasted pepper soup
For the best roasted pepper soup, make sure the peppers have some dark charred spots after roasting. This adds a deeper smoky flavour to the final dish. If you prefer a very smooth texture, you can pass the blended soup through a fine sieve to remove any remaining bits of skin. You can also roast a few tomatoes along with the peppers for extra acidity and depth.
If the soup tastes a bit flat, a small squeeze of lemon juice can brighten the flavours before serving. Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to three days. It is also a very freezer friendly meal that tastes just as good after being thawed and reheated.
You can also try these recipes:
veal tartare,
minced beef with rice or
pan-fried frozen salmon.