Simple Sweet Potato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Prep Time45 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time1 hr 5 mins
Servings: 4 -6 servings
Ingredients
- 4 large or 6 small red bell peppers substitute 1 1/2 cups jarred, roasted red bell peppers, chopped roughly before measuring
- 1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil such as refined avocado or grapeseed or a few tablespoons water
- 1 large or 2 small white or yellow onions roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 4 sweet potatoes peeled and roughly chopped (1 1/2 lbs after preparation)
- 5 cups low sodium vegetable broth or 4 cups broth + 1 cup water
- 3/4 teaspoon fine salt
- Juice of 1 lime
- Crushed red pepper flakes to taste
- See note for optional flavor variations!
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450F. Arrange the peppers on 1 or 2 parchment or foil-lined baking sheets. Roast for 40 minutes, or until the skins are wrinkled and charred. Remove the peppers from the oven and allow them to cool and collapse (about 20-30 minutes). Remove the stems, skins, and seeds from the peppers; chop the peppers roughly and set them aside until you're ready to use. They can be transferred to an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to a week.
- Heat the oil or water in a large pot over medium high heat. Add the onion. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes, or until the onion is soft and clear. Add the garlic and cook for another minute or so. Add the potato, broth, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft.
- Add the roasted peppers to the pot. Use an immersion blender to blend the soup till it's smooth and creamy, or transfer it to a blender in batches and blend till smooth. Transfer the soup back to the pot and heat gently. If the soup is thicker than you'd like, add some extra broth or water to achieve a desired consistency. Add the lime juice and crushed red pepper to taste; taste and adjust the seasonings as desired. Serve. Leftover soup will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge. It can be frozen for up to 6 weeks.
Notes
Flavor variations:
1. Thai-inspired: Add two extra cloves minced garlic; add 2 tablespoons red curry paste to the soup before simmering (along with the potatoes, broth, and salt).
2. Indian inspired: Add 1 teaspoon mustard seeds and 1 teaspoon cumin seeds to the hot oil before adding the onion. When the mustard seeds start popping, add the onion. Add a tablespoon of curry powder to the soup before simmering (along with the potatoes, broth, and salt). After the soup has finished cooking and blending, stir in 1 cup plain vegan yogurt of choice. Serve with fresh, chopped cilantro. You can also stir in some cooked basmati rice for extra heft.
3. Smoky: Add 1 teaspoon smoked paprika and 1 teaspoon chili powder to the soup before simmering (along with the potatoes, broth, and salt). Alternately, add 2 tablespoons chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
5. 5-Spice: Add 1 tablespoon minced ginger to the soup along with the garlic. Add 2 teaspoons Chinese five spice powder to the soup before simmering (along with the potatoes, broth, and salt).