Roasted Red Pepper Soup (Printable Version)

Silky charred red peppers and roasted garlic blend into a warming, gently spiced Mediterranean soup ready in under an hour.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 large red bell peppers
02 - 1 large yellow onion, chopped
03 - 4 cloves garlic, unpeeled
04 - 1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
05 - 1 celery stalk, chopped

→ Liquids

06 - 3 cups vegetable broth
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Flavorings

08 - 1-2 teaspoons harissa paste
09 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Garnishes

12 - 1/4 cup crème fraîche or plain yogurt
13 - Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
14 - Crusty bread for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Place red peppers and unpeeled garlic cloves on a baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and roast for 25-30 minutes, turning once, until peppers are charred and soft and garlic is caramelized.
02 - Transfer roasted peppers to a bowl and cover with a plate. Let steam for 10 minutes, then peel and deseed the peppers. Squeeze the roasted garlic from its skins.
03 - In a large pot, heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion, carrot, and celery. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring, until softened.
04 - Add roasted peppers, roasted garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, and harissa paste. Stir well and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Pour in vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
06 - Use an immersion blender or transfer soup in batches to a blender to puree until silky smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - Serve hot, garnished with crème fraîche or yogurt and fresh herbs. Add crusty bread on the side if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It transforms inexpensive vegetables into something that tastes restaurant fancy
  • The roasted peppers bring natural sweetness so you dont need much else
  • It comes together quickly but tastes like it simmered all day
02 -
  • Steaming the peppers after roasting makes peeling them infinitely easier
  • An immersion blender saves you from transferring hot soup and creates less cleanup
  • The soup thickens as it cools, so add a splash more broth when reheating leftovers
03 -
  • Use the broiler for the last 2 minutes of roasting to get even more char on the peppers
  • Toast some extra cumin and paprika in a dry pan before adding for deeper flavor
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