PUREED RED PEPPER AND POTATO SOUP

Pureed Red Pepper and Potato Soup image

This is a beautiful soup with a deep, rich flavor to match the color. Make sure to strain it after you puree it, a quick step that absolves you of the longer step of peeling the peppers.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Time 1h30m

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Number Of Ingredients 14

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Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus a drizzle for serving
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
Salt, preferably kosher salt
4 plump garlic cloves, green shoots removed, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 pounds (4 large) red bell peppers, seeded, membranes removed, cut in large dice
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 pound russet potatoes (about 2 medium), peeled and diced
2 quarts chicken or vegetable stock
A bouquet garni made with a bay leaf and a couple of sprigs each thyme and parsley, tied together in a bundle
Freshly ground pepper
Garlic croutons (toast thin slices of baguette and rub with a cut clove of garlic)
Slivered basil leaves or chopped fresh thyme leaves

Steps:

Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy soup pot and add the onion and carrot. Cook, stirring often, until the onion begins to soften, and add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Continue to cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes, and stir in the garlic and the tomato paste. Stir for a minute or two, until the garlic is fragrant and the tomato paste has darkened, and add the peppers, paprika, and another 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often, until the peppers begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
Add the potatoes, stock, and bouquet garni and bring to a simmer. Add salt to taste, 1 to 2 teaspoons, cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour. Remove the bouquet garni.
Using an immersion blender, or in a blender or food processor fitted with the steel blade (working in batches and covering the blender lid or food processor with a kitchen towel to prevent the hot soup from splashing), blend the soup until smooth. Strain the soup through a medium strainer, pushing it through the strainer with a spatula or the bowl of a ladle, and return to the heat. Heat through, add salt and pepper to taste, and serve. Garnish with garlic croutons and slivered fresh basil or chopped thyme, and drizzle a few drops of olive oil over each serving if desired.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 184, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 30 grams, Fat 3 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 1019 milligrams, Sugar 10 grams