I was sent this recipe by Lisa, but I’ve changed it slightly according to what was available, which is my normal approach to cookery. This makes enough for two large bowls of soup.
You will need: [Give or take a couple of items, of course]
1 red and 1 yellow pepper
1 small onion
2 tomatoes
1 tbs tomato puree
1 pint vegetable stock
some tarragon
some chives
half a lemon
about 2 tbs flour
First chop up all your vegetables into small squarish pieces, not that the shape matters, as it’s going to be whizzed in the blender later on in the recipe. Oops, I’ve spoiled the ending. You’ll notice that some of these red peppers are decidedly yellow, so let’s call it Orange Pepper Soup from now on.
Cook the onion in a little olive oil until it starts to turn translucent. Add the peppers, tomatoes, tomato puree and herbs, and continue to cook it gently for about ten minutes. Put the kettle on so you can make the stock.
When it’s all nicely mushy, stir in the flour. Lisa’s recipe said plain flour, but all I had was some very old organic wholemeal. I don’t think it makes much difference, as this is just to thicken the soup. Add the stock a little at a time, stirring carefully to make sure that the flour is mixed in and doesn’t go lumpy. Again, it will get blended in the end, so this isn’t really crucial. Then add the juice of half a lemon. I usually just cut the rind off, remove the pips, and bung the rest of it into the pan. If you wanted to add salt and pepper, now would be a good time, but the soup has a lot of seasoning already, and I don’t think any more is really necessary.
And now the fun part. Assemble your shiny new blender, which has previously only been used for making milkshake and cocktails. Remove the lid, because you know you’re too damn clumsy to pour it through that little hole in the top. Put soup into blender. Switch on. And remember, children, that when taking photographs of a blender with a chrome base, it is always a good idea not to be naked. Don’t bother magnifying this picture; I am not in the habit of making soup when naked.
Just whizz it until it looks smooth. Pour soup into bowl. Eat. Or drink. Which is it, with soup?
