Fire Roasted Red Pepper Soup With Cilantro Cream And Grilled Cajun Shellfish Recipes

Steps:

• Char peppers over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Enclose in paper bag and let stand 10 minutes. Peel, seed and slice peppers. Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots, garlic and thyme and sauté 3 minutes. Add 3 cups broth and all but 4 slices of roasted pepper. Simmer uncovered until peppers are very soft, about 20 minutes.
• Working in batches, purée soup in blender until smooth. Return to same pot. Add half and half, vinegar and cayenne pepper. Rewarm soup, thinning with additional broth, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with reserved pepper strips and basil.

Steps:

• Slice the peppers in half lengthwise; remove stem, seeds and membrane. Place under the broiler skin side up until the skin turns black and blisters. Remove and immediately place in a small paper bag or plastic container with a tight lid. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes; this will loosen the roasted skin. Remove peppers and rub off the black skin with your fingers. Chop skinned peppers and set aside.
• Saute the butter, onions, and garlic until soft in a heavy bottomed soup pot on medium-low heat. Add the reserved red peppers, tomato paste, and chicken stock. Bring to a low boil, reduce the heat, and then simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Stir in the cornstarch mixed with a little cold water to thicken. Simmer 5 minutes. *Let the soup cool slightly, and then blend in batches in a blender, or use an immersion blender to puree. Sprinkle the roasted corn over the soup before serving and top with a dollop of Cilantro Lime Sour Cream.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk all ingredients vigorously until light and creamy.

Steps:

• Roast bell peppers over a gas flame, tending carefully and turning to blacken all sides. When completely roasted, place in heatproof bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 10 minutes.
• Remove from bowl and remove skin, seeds and stems.
• In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add carrots, celery and red onion. Cook over medium high heat until vegetables are beginning to soften. Add roasted peppers, tomatoes, basil and balsamic vinegar. Stir well to combine. Cook until tomatoes are beginning to break down.
• Remove from heat and transfer to a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Process until mixture has reached a smooth consistency.
• Add heavy cream and mix until well combined.
• Serve warm.

Steps:

• Roast peppers: Turn burner to high.
• Impale a red pepper on a long-handled fork and hold over high heat, turning to char skin evenly.
• When skin is brown and crackly, immediately plunge pepper in a bowl of ice water; the skin will fall away.
• Repeat with remaining peppers.
• Seed peppers and chop coarsely.
• Alternatively, broil peppers in a preheated broiler 4 inches from element, turning to char all sides evenly.
• Combine oil, onions, garlic, basil, salt, cayenne, 3 turns of pepper and roasted peppers in a medium saucepan.
• Cook 3 minutes over high heat.
• Stir in stock and 1/4 cup cream and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
• Purée red pepper mixture in food processor or with a hand blender until smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Return red pepper soup to pan with remaining cream and heat on medium-low heat before serving, garnished with basil chiffonade.