Smoked Paprika And Red Bell Pepper Soup

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 8 fleshy red bell peppers
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 onions, peeled and chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 red chilies, chopped
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 4 cups chicken stock or 4 cups vegetable stock (for a vegetarian version)
• 3 small potatoes, peeled and diced
• 3 -5 sprigs parsley
• 3 -5 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, extra
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup light cream (optional)

Recipe

• 1 peppers:, halved brushed with olive oil, baked in a very hot oven until the skin blisters and blackens.
• 2 place in a plastic bag 10 minutes, then remove blackened skin, and chop coarsely.
• 3 heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
• 4 cook the onions, garlic and chillies until soft, but not brown.
• 5 add the paprika and cook for 1 more minute.
• 6 add the peppers, stock, potatoes, parsley, thyme sprigs and simmer gently for about 20 minutes or until the potatoes are soft.
• 7 remove the herb sprigs.
• 8 puree in a food processor until smooth adding the thyme, vinegar and cream (if you're using it) just before you finish.
• 9 serve hot with garlic bread, or cold garnished with guacomale.