Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Roasted bell pepper soup and something special for the deserving.

Hey guys. Hope all of your are in the pinkest of health and happy about good weather too. I'm doing great. I'm taking a long break from blogging for a month. Quite a lot of travelling, parties and picnics on the way. I'm really excited.

Before I go, I would love to pass on a very special award to some very special food bloggers . This award was given to me by Muneeba. I would love to hand it over to some of my blogger buddies in whose pages I see more of a "raw passion" for food and cooking than mere blog posts. According to me, these few have a big time infatuation with food. Their zeal never fails to impress and I'm always surprised at the time and effort that goes into each post of theirs. Love their recipes too.
So here's to that gusto.
Asha,
Superchef,
Ria,
Poornima.
I really meant every word and you are truly deserving.

About today's post. It's roasted bell peppers soup.I know summer is not the time for soups. But summer is the time when you get good bell peppers in the market. So why not make good soup? Here is a wonderful recipe of a wonderful fresh soup.

Bye everyone. See ya after a month. Y'all have fun and so will I:)

Ingredients
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 onions, chopped
  • 1 small carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoons oregano
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3 bell peppers (red,yellow and orange)
  • 1 small russet potato, peeled and chopped into 1 cm. cubes
  • 1/4 cup dry red wine(optional)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 6 (3/4-inch thick) baguette slices, cut into 1/2 to 3/4-inch cubes
  • 1/8 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1/8 cup grated cheddar cheese
Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. To roast bell pepper, cut each into four pieces and remove the seeds. Toss the peppers in 1 tbspn olive oil and put them onto a tray lined with aluminium foil. ( I place them skin side down)
Roast for 20 mins. When done, put the hot peppers into a plastic box and let them sweat for 5 mins. This makes it easier to remove the skin of the pepper. When the skins are removed, set them aside.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions, carrots, garlic, and oregano and saute until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Add wine and let the alcohol in it evaporate completely( takes about3-4 mins)
  • Add the broth, bell peppers, potato and sugar. Bring to a simmer over high heat.
  • Add salt and pepper. Decrease the heat to medium-low. Partially cover and simmer until the potatoes are very tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.Add milk and cheeses and simmer for another 2 mins.
  • Cool the soup slightly.
  • Puree the soup in a regular blender, taking care while blending warm liquids.
  • Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the bread cubes and saute until they are crisp and golden, about 8 minutes.
  • Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with croutons.
Luv 'n' luc'
Smitha

32 comments:

  1. Thank you so much Smitha for those wonderful words and the award, Right back at you!! You are a darling and you've made my day. The award really means a lot.

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  2. The soup is wonderful, the flavors it sound awesome. Enjoy your vacation and see you back soon.

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  3. thank you soo much for those really nice sweet words. It really means a lot to me to hear something like that from a fellow foodie blogger! :)You totally deserve this award too and enjoy it :)

    that soup looks awesome!! love that picture of roasted bell peppers..enjoy your vacation..will miss you till then :)

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  4. Congrats on the award Smitha :) You truly deserve it! The soup looks delicious..a new recipe for me. Love the cute bowl in which you have served..goes well with the soup too!

    And reg: your doubt about seasoning mix-Fried rice seasoning mix is obtained at Asian section in grocery stores and Walmart too.Its a yellow coloured small sachet packet. Unfortunately I ran out of it, else I would have uploaded a picture of it for you.

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  5. And have a great vacation with loads of fun! :)

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  6. Woow!! the colours r so smacking delicious..loved the post :)

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  7. I love your catch line.. soft whispers...
    you have a beautifully delicious blog here, all the very best to you:)

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  8. Wow.Looks great and tantalizing!!!

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  9. Forgot to mention. Enjoy your vacation,trips,picnics to the full.Best wishes for happy time ahead

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  10. Hi Smitha,
    Wowie!girl that sounds exciting :) have a great time and have loads of fun!!
    Congratulations to all the nominees!!they are truly wonderful to draw inspiration from!!There's an air of happiness in this post smitha, feels good to read it.
    Enjoy sweetie:)c u soon!
    TC

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  11. The soup is looks yumm...thanks for sharing a bell pepper soup,like the roasted flavour..shall try it sometime during the rains. Thanks, nice snap with cute chillie serving bowl :)

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  12. Wow the soup looks great and roating always enhances the flavor... Have a great vacation/parties/funfilled picnics... Congrats on your award!!!

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  13. First time to ur blog,u have a nice one out here....guess roasting enhances the flavor.Thanks for a wonderful recipe....congrats on ur awards:)

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  14. Congrats :)
    The soup sounds great-never tried it before!! I LOVE the serving dish-so cute and goes with the theme of the soup!

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  15. Have loads of fun, travelling, picnic etc........enjoy the break.

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  16. AND THIS GIVES ME AN IDEA... i will soon start a cooking series too.. i will also get awards in that case...

    soon to start...

    chriz

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  17. Smita!!!!That was such a lovely suprise!! Thank you soooo much for the award!! I was in such a gloomy mood today and be happy that you wiped that frown out and got the smile back on my face!!Thank you soo much ! You made my day!!!

    I'm really going to miss ya!! Have a nice trip ( a safe one too!! )
    Loved the soup! Lovely presentation too! :) So will u be back in time to join for the party at my blog?

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  18. One more thing!! Come back with LOADS of pics!! :)

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  19. cograds for your award smitha..you deserve more and i think within 2-3months left side of the blog background will be full..

    soup is looking superb and i loved that serving dish.. :)

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  20. Hey Smitha..something is awaiting you at my blog at:http://myexperiencewithcooking.blogspot.com/2009/05/mushroom-fried-rice-and-my-50th-post.html

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  21. that's a yummy soup and a cute bowl!

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  22. I love roasted pepper soup...liek you they are so delicious, they can be had any time of the year..take care dear :)

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  23. i would love to have this soup now :p
    will surely try them. One question : what can I substitute for dry red wine?

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  24. Wow..the soup looks yumm...have a great vaccation and come back soon with your sweet posts...

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  25. I just love anything with roasted bell pepper! Love its juiciness Congrats on ur award!

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  26. great recipe and wonderful picture!

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  27. congrats on your award..soup looks heavenly..delicious :)

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  28. Love the roasted flavors of peppers,enjoy your break:)

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  29. hi smitha
    visiting your blog for the first time!
    u have great number of recipes.. gr8 appetizing soup !

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  30. Thanks Smitha, enjoy your award too, catching up today!:)

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  31. first of all i love the dish which u served the curry.. curry looks perfect..first time to ur blog...got good recipes..

    If u have time pls check out my blog!!!

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  32. hi there sorry abt mentioning it as curry.. it was so thick even though it was mentioned in the heading... i wrote it as curry.. my soup is always watery.. thats why the confusion..

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