Vegetarian Cooking: Green Pepper Cream Soup Recipe

Green pepper cream soup ingredients

• 250g/ 9 oz green peppers, deseeded (see watch point)

• 25g/1 oz margarine or butter

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 1 clove garlic, chopped (see Cook’s tip)

• 15 g/ ½ oz plain flour

• 600 ml/ 1 pint vegetable stock

• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh herbs, or ½ teaspoon dried mixed herbs

• salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

• 150 ml/ ¼ pint single cream (see economy)  

How To Prepare the Green Pepper Cream Soup

1. Cut a few very thin rings from one of the peppers and set aside for garnish. Chop the remainder.
2. Melt the margarine in a heavy based saucepan. Add the chopped peppers, onion and garlic and cook over very low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are soft but not brown.
3. Sprinkle the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring, then gradually stir in the stock. Add the herbs, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and cook gently for 20-25 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
4. Leave to cool slightly, then transfer to a blender and blend for about 5 minutes until smooth. If you do not have a blender, work the vegetables through sieve while it’s still hot. Return the soup to the rinsed –out pan, add lemon juice and cream, then taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Heat through thoroughly, but do not boil.
5. Serve hot, garnished with the reserved pepper rings.

Time

This soup takes about 35 minutes to make

Watch point

- use green peppers only for this soup. Red peppers are sweeter than the green ones, but will give an entirely different, less pleasant flavor and colour.

Cook tips

- even if you do not usually use garlic, it is worth including in this soup: the flavor is subtle rather than obvious.

Serving ideas

- serve the soup with bread and cheese to make a nutritious supper, or with fingers of whole meal toast and butter for a snack or dinner party starter.
Economy- evaporated milk can be used instead of cream. It is far less expensive than single cream and its stronger flavor combines very successfully with the green peppers.