Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Swiss Cheese

This velvety roasted red pepper soup gets deep savory flavor from sun-dried tomatoes, sautéed aromatics, and a touch of smoked paprika. Shredded swiss cheese melts into the hot soup for a creamy, gently nutty finish.
Prep: 15 min · Cook: 35 min · Total: 50 min · Serves: 6
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 4 oz swiss cheese (shredded)
- 0.5 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp fresh basil (thinly sliced)
- 4 cups vegetable broth (low-sodium)
- 1 large celery stalk (diced)
- 0.5 tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 0.5 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil (drained and chopped)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (fresh)
- 0.5 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 24 oz roasted red peppers (drained and roughly chopped)
- 1 large yellow onion (diced)
- 1 medium carrot (diced)
- 0.75 tsp fine sea salt
Instructions
- Place a 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven on the counter and prepare all vegetables before heating the pot, keeping the roasted red peppers and sun-dried tomatoes drained so the soup does not become oily or watery.
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in the Dutch oven over medium heat until the oil shimmers, about 1 minute.
- Add 1 large diced yellow onion, 1 medium diced carrot, and 1 large diced celery stalk to the Dutch oven and cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon every minute, until the onion is translucent and the carrot begins to soften, 7-8 minutes.
- Stir in 4 cloves minced garlic, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 0.5 tsp dried thyme, 0.75 tsp fine sea salt, and 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper, then cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until the tomato paste darkens slightly and the garlic smells fragrant.
- Add 24 oz drained chopped roasted red peppers and 0.5 cup drained chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the Dutch oven, and stir for 2 minutes over medium heat until the vegetables are evenly coated with the tomato paste mixture.
- Pour in 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, scraping the bottom of the Dutch oven with the wooden spoon to release any browned bits, then raise the heat to medium-high and bring the soup to a gentle boil in 4-5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, partially cover the Dutch oven, and simmer the soup for 18-20 minutes until the carrot pieces are tender enough to mash easily against the side of the pot with the spoon.
- Turn off the heat and blend the soup directly in the Dutch oven with an immersion blender for 2-3 minutes until completely smooth, keeping the blender head submerged to prevent splashing.
- Return the Dutch oven to low heat and stir in 0.5 cup heavy cream until the soup is evenly colored and steaming, about 2 minutes; do not let the soup boil after adding the cream.
- Add 4 oz shredded Swiss cheese in three small handfuls over low heat, stirring for 30-45 seconds after each addition until the cheese melts smoothly before adding more.
- Stir in 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, then heat the soup over low heat for 1 minute until hot and glossy; the finished soup should coat the back of a spoon and register at least 165°F (74°C) on an instant-read thermometer for serving temperature.
- Ladle the soup into warm bowls, garnish each serving with 2 tbsp thinly sliced fresh basil divided evenly, and serve immediately while the cheese-enriched soup is smooth and hot.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 247
- Protein: 9 g
- Fat: 17 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 842 mg
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