Roasted Red Pepper Soup (Printable)

Silky roasted red pepper soup with garlic, harissa, and warming Mediterranean flavors.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 large red bell peppers
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
04 - 1 head garlic
05 - 1 medium potato, peeled and diced

→ Pantry

06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
07 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
08 - 1½ teaspoons harissa paste
09 - 4 cups vegetable broth
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

12 - ¼ cup crème fraîche or plain Greek yogurt
13 - Fresh cilantro or parsley leaves
14 - Crusty bread for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F.
02 - Cut the red peppers in half, remove seeds and membranes, and place them cut-side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Slice off the top of the garlic head to expose the cloves, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil, and place on the baking sheet.
03 - Roast peppers and garlic for 25 to 30 minutes, until the pepper skins are charred and blistered. Remove and let cool; keep the oven on.
04 - Once cooled, peel the skins off the peppers and squeeze the roasted garlic cloves from their skins.
05 - In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and potato. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until softened.
06 - Stir in tomato paste and harissa paste; cook for 1 minute.
07 - Add roasted peppers, roasted garlic, smoked paprika, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until vegetables are tender.
08 - Puree the soup in batches using a blender or with an immersion blender until silky smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
09 - Ladle into bowls, swirl with crème fraîche or yogurt, and garnish with fresh herbs as desired. Serve with crusty bread.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The roasted garlic becomes sweet and mellow, melting into the soup like a secret ingredient nobody can quite identify
  • Harissa adds this gentle warmth that builds slowly, making every spoonful more comforting than the last
02 -
  • Letting the peppers cool slightly makes peeling much easier—the skins practically slide off
  • Pureeing hot soup can be dangerous, so either let it cool slightly or use a low-speed setting on your blender
03 -
  • If your peppers aren't charring well, turn on the broiler for the last 2 to 3 minutes
  • Using an immersion blender means fewer dishes and more control over texture
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