Red Pepper Soup

Name: Red Pepper Soup
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 3 ¼ cup sliced onions; 3 large cloves garlic, crushed; ¼ cup dry white wine; 12 large red bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces; 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock or broth; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme; ¼ to ½ teaspoon hot red pepper flakes; Salt and white or black pepper; Crème fraîche for garnish; Thyme sprigs for garnish.

Based on Deb Perelman's recipe in Smitten Kitchen.

Ingredients

Makes

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 ¼ cup sliced onions
3 large cloves garlic, crushed
¼ cup dry white wine
12 large red bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock or broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
¼ to ½ teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
Salt and white or black pepper
Crème fraîche for garnish
Thyme sprigs for garnish.

Preparation

Put oil in large pot.
Add onion when oil is hot.
Cook onions until they begin to soften and take on color.
Add garlic and cook another minute.
Add wine and cook down quickly and on high heat, until only one tablespoon is left.
Add peppers, stock, thyme and red pepper flakes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer until peppers are tender, about 30 minutes.
In food processor or with an immersion blender, puree mixture in until smooth (if a food processor, in batches). Adjust seasonings to taste.
Soup can be served warm or chilled. Serve in demitasse cups or soup bowls, topped with a dab of crème fraîche and a tiny sprig of thyme.