Roasted Red Pepper and Basil Pea Soup

This hearty but light pea soup uses fresh basil, red pepper, and garlic for a rich flavor.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 175 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 green onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper
• salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
• 4 cups frozen peas, thawed
• 0.5 cup chopped fresh basil

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place the pepper onto the prepared baking sheet. Cook under the preheated broiler until the skin of the pepper has blackened and blistered, 5 to 8 minutes. Turn pepper over to blacken all sides. Place the blackened pepper into a bowl and tightly seal with plastic wrap. Allow the pepper to steam as it cools, about 20 minutes. Cut the pepper in half and remove seeds; strip and discard skin from pepper, chop, and set aside.

Step 2

Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add green onion and roasted red bell pepper; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Stir in peas and cook for another 3 minutes.

Step 3

Pour in vegetable broth, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until peas are tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in basil, remove from heat, and let cool. Pour pea mixture into a blender no more than half full. Cover and hold lid down; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Puree in batches until smooth. Return soup to pot over medium heat and cook until heated through; season with salt and cracked black pepper to taste.

Step 4

Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.