Pan Roasted Tomato and Pepper Soup

Pan roasted chillies, tomatoes, peppers and garlic along with the spices give this soup a very special deep flavour.

The tomatoes, red peppers, orange pepper, red chilli and garlic are roasted in a dry pan until slightly charred to bring out the deep flavours. This is then added to a soup base of celery, carrot, white onion, red onion and bay leaf which has been softened in a little oil. Spices, herbs, seasoning and chicken stock are then added. After a simmer the bay leaf is removed then the soup is blended until smooth.

This may look like a simple soup but it has a depth of flavour that lifts it up to a new level.

Makes 4 large portions

Preparation time 15-20 minutes, cooking time 40 minutes

Ingredients

Pan roasted vegetables:

1 orange bell pepper – seeds and stalks removed, roughly chopped

1 red bell pepper – seeds and stalk removed, roughly chopped

6 cloves garlic – leave in skin

5 round tomatoes

2 red chillies

Method: Heat a deep wide frying pan and add the vegetables. Dry fry for around 8-10 minutes, tossing the pan occasionally, until the garlic is softened and char marks appear on the chillies, tomatoes and peppers. Remove the garlic and chillies on to a chopping board to cool, then remove the garlic skins (should peel easily) and the chilli stalk, return to pan to add to the soup base.

For soup base

2 sticks celery – sliced

1 white onion – diced

1 red onion – diced

4 medium sized carrots – peel, sliced

2 bay leaf

2 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp ground turmeric

Handful fresh coriander (leaf and stalk)

10 basil leafs

2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

1 and half dessert spoons brown sugar

1.5L chicken stock

1-2 tbsp. olive oil

1 tsp sea salt – plus extra to taste

Black peppercorns – for grinding

Method: Add 1-2 tbsp. of olive oil to a deep soup pan and heat to medium hot. Add the celery, carrot, onions and bay leaf and fry for 6-7 minutes until softened. Add the paprika, cumin, coriander and stir through the softened vegetables. Now add the pan roasted vegetables into the soup and stir through. Add the chicken stock then add the herbs (coriander, parsley and basil), bring pan to the boil for 2-3 minutes then reduce to a simmer. Add one and a half dessert spoons of brown sugar then add a teaspoon of salt and a generous amount of black pepper. Cover the pan, reduce heat to a gentle simmer for 25-30 minutes. Before serving use a stick blender to blend until smooth. After blending taste the soup and add more seasoning if required.

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