Roasted Red Pepper Soup, Rosemary Crema, Pea Pesto Crostini

For all I'm concerned, it's soup season!

Gently roasted and charred red peppers, sweet onions and coconut milk, rosemary infused cream and golden crostini topped with pureed green peas and pine nuts.




Roasted Red Pepper Soup
2 tbl extra virgin olive oil
3 red peppers, whole
2 tbl extra virgin olive oil
1 white onion, chopped small
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp pepper
8 oz fire roasted diced tomatoes
3/4c coconut milk
1c water

Preheat your oven to broil. On a sheet tray lined with foil, lay red peppers and drizzle with 2 tbl of oil. Place under broiler and broil until charred on all sides, around 10 minutes. Place the red peppers in a paper bag to sweat for 10 minutes. This will allow the skin to come off a lot easier. Peel the skin off but not completely, you want to still taste some of that roasted flavor. Remove the stem and seeds and chop the pepper into pieces.

In a large stock pot, add 2 tbl olive oil and saute the onions until soft, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Saute until the garlic is fragrant and golden brown. Add the red peppers and tomatoes, stir. Add the coconut milk and water and simmer for 15 minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Rosemary Crema
1c plain soy creamer
1 sprig of rosemary, leaves removed from the stem

In a small pot bring the soy creamer just to a boil. Add the rosemary leaves and remove from heat. Cover with seran wrap and steep for 15 minutes. Remove the rosemary and let the cream cool.

Pea Pesto Crostini
1 baguette, sliced into 1/2 inch rounds on a bias
extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
10 oz frozen peas, thawed
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/4c extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4c pine nuts
1/4c fresh parsley, coarsely chopped

Preheat the oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with foil and lay the baguette slices on it. Drizzle with oil and cook until toasted and golden brown.
In a food processor combine remaining ingredients and add more salt or pepper to taste.