Roasted Red Bell Pepper Soup

A delicious, creamy textured soup without the cream. The secret is in the beans! This soup is an all time favorite in my family. Serve hot or cold with a dollop of sour cream, or goat cheese. Sprinkle with some chopped watercress.

Original recipe makes 6 servings

Ingredients

3 red bell peppers
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 (15 ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to broil.
Place the bell peppers on a baking sheet and broil on the top rack of the oven, using tongs to turn them as each side blackens. Place the blackened peppers in a paper bag, close tightly and allow them to cool for 20 to 30 minutes. Then peel the skin off the peppers and discard the stem and all the seeds. Chop the peppers and set aside.
In a large pot over medium heat, saute the onion and garlic in the oil for 5 minutes, or until onion is translucent. Now add the chopped, roasted red bell peppers and saute for 2 to 3 more minutes.
Next, add the chicken broth and the beans, stirring well. Using a blender, puree the soup in small batches and return to the pot over low heat for 5 minutes.