Roasted Red Pepper Soup (Printable Version)

Sweet roasted peppers and garlic blended with warming harissa create a silky, vibrant Mediterranean bowl.

# The Ingredients 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

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

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 parchment-lined baking sheet. 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 25–30 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 5–7 minutes until softened.
06 - Stir in tomato paste and harissa; cook for 1 minute.
07 - Add roasted peppers, roasted garlic, smoked paprika, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15–20 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.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The roasted peppers bring an incredible natural sweetness that balances beautifully with the smoky heat
  • It comes together faster than you would expect but tastes like it simmered all day
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors really settle in
02 -
  • Letting the peppers cool slightly makes peeling the skins much easier and less frustrating
  • The soup can look alarmingly bright red but the flavor is mellow and deeply savory
  • Blending hot soup requires care, either work in batches or use an immersion blender directly in the pot
03 -
  • Do not rush the roasting step as that char is where the magic lives
  • Taste the harissa first since brands vary wildly in heat levels
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