Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Roasted Red Pepper and Sweet Potato Soup



One of my favorite dinners is a soup/salad combination. It's easy, simple, and generally healthy. I had a few sweet potatoes in the pantry, and jarred roasted red peppers that I got on super sale, so I combined the two! I wanted to make it a little spicy, but really focus on the sweet potato flavor, and the smoky red peppers.
You can microwave your sweet potatoes if you're in a rush, but they just have such better texture when roasted. I prick mine with a fork and place them directly on the oven rack. They roast for close to an hour, and then slip right out of their skins like a jacket!
This soup can be completely pureed and made thinner, or it can be left with a little texture and chunk. I know JJ likes chunky soups, so I chopped half a sweet potato and added it at the end.

Roasted Red Pepper and Sweet Potato Soup

2 medium sweet potatoes, roasted and skinned
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 onion, chopped
1 cup roasted red peppers (jarred pieces or 2 whole fresh)
2-3 cups chicken/vegetable stock
1-2 cups water
Salt and fresh black pepper
Sprinkle of cayenne
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
Sour cream and green onions, for garnish

Heat a soup pot over medium heat.
Add 1 tsp. EVOO, garlic and onions.
Season with salt and pepper, stir and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Take pot off heat, add onions and garlic to a blender.
Add 1 1/2 sweet potatoes, red peppers, half of stock and water, pepper, cayenne, cumin and chili powder to the blender.
Blend until smooth, add more stock/water if necessary.
Add soup back to the pot, add more stock to reach desired consistency.
Chop the other 1/2 sweet potato, add to soup, stir gently.
Bring to a simmer, taste, adjust seasonings.
Serve with sour cream and onions.

4 comments:

Kim said...

I love your pretty soup bowl! Looks like a great soup and a very pretty color.

Natalie said...

yum! I'm a huge fan of sweet potato in soups--would love to try the variation with the roasted red peppers! love your creativity!

NKP said...

Simple and delicious. We have been eating lots more sweet potatoes lately, great pairing with the peppers.

Joanne said...

So delicious! I can just imagine how the roasted red pepper gave the whole thing a smoky flavor that the sweet potato then...sweetened...up!