Roasted red bell pepper soup

The robins and the jays are back, it will be just few weeks before the cardinals, orioles and the finches show up. And just when I was ready to rejoice,burn my mittens, and my sweaters, an icy cold breeze blows by like a slap on my face. Winter is not gone I get it, I do. So I crawl back into my kitchen for a pepper upper(pun intended). Red bell pepper soup was just the thing to have.

Serves 4
Prep time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 40 mins

3 large red bell peppers
2 Poblano peppers
1 jalapeno pepper
28 fl.oz of vegetable/chicken broth
1 med tomato
3/4 cup of finely diced onion (1 large onion)
1/2 cup of diced celery
3 cloves of garlic finely minced
1/3 cup of loosely packed Italian basil roughly chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup of sour cream (optional)

• Roast all the peppers either on flame or under the oven broiler till they are charred and soft. I had to do it under an electric broiler. Took about 15 mins.
• Once they are roasted place them in a bowl with a lid. This will soften the peppers further and the skin comes of easily. Leave it in the bowl for 10 mins
• Meanwhile dice the onions, celery and tomato
• In a 3 lt sauce pan/pot heat the oil.
• Cook the onions,garlic and celery with a pinch of salt and pepper on a med flame for about 10 mins
• Add in the tomatoes and cook for another 5 mins
• While the tomatoes are cooking, deskin, deseed, and dice the peppers
• Throw them into the pot along with the stock/broth, and the basil and bring to a gentle boil for about 25 mins
• Turn off the heat and use an immersion blender till the soup is nice and creamy
• Taste and adjust for salt
• Stir in the sour cream just before sering

We had it with a grilled cheese sandwich, if cheese is not your thing, toast the bread and rib some garlic over it for flavor. Garlic bread is another great accompaniment. Enjoy

If you are using a regular blender wait for the soup to cool down, or else prepare for cleaning soup decorated walls
We tried cooking it with only red bell peppers, I loved it just as is; S liked the zing Poblanss brought. Your choice

The addition of Poblanos turned the red soup into a brick orange color. This my entry to SunshineMom's Food in Color. Aparna of My Diverse Kitchen is the host for this month.