COSTCO ROASTED RED PEPPER TOMATO SOUP RECIPES

Steps:

• Pre heat oven to 425 degrees.
• Line 1 cookie sheet with tin foil - wash and cut tomatoes in half, arrange cut side down on cookie sheet, drizzle generously with good extra virgin olive oil, course, kosher or sea salt and a touch of ground pepper - bake until tomato peels have split and developed a nice caramelized texture. Approximately 45 - 60 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool, remove tomato skins.
• While the tomatoes are caramelizing in the oven take your red peppers and blacken them over an open gas flame or in the case you do not have gas this can also be accomplished over an electric element simply by allowing the pepper contact with the heating coil till it blackens, or you could also do this on a gas grill. Place blackened peppers in a brown paper bag and allow to cool - I always make sure I have a plastic bag on the outside as the juices from the peppers will soak through as they cool. Once cooled remove skins, tops, ribs and seeds. Do not wash.
• In a large soup pot add 1 tbsp olive oil add onions, garlic and sauté till onions appear clear. Add chicken stock, white wine, tomato paste, basil, tomatoes and peppers. Allow to cook for approximately 30 minutes. If you have a hand held blender, puree until a creamy texture is accomplished, or you can do this in a blender a few cups at a time being very careful not to over crowd the blender as the top will pop off with the heat. Return the pureed mixture back to the pot add pepper flakes and reduce over medium heat for 10 minutes - if desired add cream and serve!

Steps:

• Roast the bell peppers on a hot cast iron plate until charred all over. Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap until cool enough to handle. Peel and discard the skins and the core. Reserve one of the roasted peppers and tear it into rustic pieces. Set aside. Puree the rest in a small food processor with a splash of olive oil and a splash of red wine vinegar until a chunky sauce forms. Set aside.
• Heat up 3 tbsp of the olive oil in an enameled cast iron pot on medium low flame. Sauté the onion with a pinch of sea salt until softened and begins to get a little color. Add the red pepper flakes, bay leaf and garlic and sauté an additional minute making sure not to burn the garlic. Stir in the purred roasted peppers and smoked paprika.
• Transfer the canned tomatoes to a bowl and using your hands crush them into rustic chunks and add them to the soup pot. Stir and pour in the water. Bring to a gentle simmer and partially cover with a lid. Allow the soup to cook gently for about 45 minutes until the flavors have married and desired consistency is achieved. Adjust seasonings to your taste with sea salt. Serve hot with the reserved pepper pieces and drizzles of pesto. Garnish with the toasted pine nuts, fresh parsley and basil.
• Parsley Pesto