Red Pepper Fennel Soup With Pita Chips Recipes

ROASTED RED PEPPER HUMMUS WITH HOMEMADE PITA CHIPS

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor, place the chickpeas and red bell pepper. On a cutting board, mash the garlic cloves with 1/4 teaspoon of salt to a smooth paste with the side of a knife, then add this to the processor along with the crushed red pepper, tahini, water, 4 tablespoons of the lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, cumin, and pepper and process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Taste and adjust the seasoning by adding salt and additional lemon juice, if necessary, to taste. Transfer to a wide shallow bowl for serving and use the back of a serving spoon to form a well in the center of the hummus. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil and sprinkle the top with the parsley, and paprika. Serve at room temperature, with pita chips for dipping.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Combine the olive oil, garlic, and Essence in a small bowl and whisk to mix. Brush the mixture evenly over the rough (inside portion) of each pita bread half. Stack the pita breads and cut into quarters. Arrange the pita pieces evenly on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown and crispy, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool before serving.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch
• Published by William Morrow, 1993.

RED PEPPER SOUP WITH FETA CHEESE

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender, process undrained peppers with chicken broth, garlic, oregano, and basil until smooth.
• Transfer liquid to a saucepan, and heat over medium-low heat. Simmer for 5 minutes. Slowly whisk in cream, and heat through.
• Serve in soup bowls over crumbled feta cheese. Sprinkle additional feta cheese and oregano on top for garnish.

RED PEPPER HUMMUS WITH PITA CHIPS

Steps:

• In food processor, place chickpeas, lemon juice, oil and garlic. Cover; process 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth. Add roasted peppers; process 30 to 60 seconds or until peppers are finely chopped. Place in serving bowl; cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Serve with pita chips.

RED-PEPPER FENNEL SOUP WITH PITA CHIPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°. Reserve 4 strips of roasted red pepper and set aside. In a medium pot, place 4 tablespoons melted butter over medium heat.
• Add the leek and chopped fennel bulb and cook until lightly golden, about 10 minutes.
• Add the remaining roasted red peppers, the potato, broth, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and bring to a boil.
• Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the potato is tender, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the pitas on a baking sheet and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter. Sprinkle with some of the fennel fronds and salt; toast in the oven, 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside.
• Using an immersion or standing blender, working in batches if necessary, blend the potato mixture until smooth.
• If desired, place a sieve over a large pot and strain the soup. Stir in the heavy cream and season with salt and pepper.
• Serve the soup hot or cold with the pita chips. Dollop with sour cream, if desired, and top with the reserved roasted red pepper strips and more fennel fronds.

CHICKPEA SOUP WITH SPICED PITA CHIPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Add the celery, carrots, onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, 7 minutes.
• Add 6 cups water, the chickpeas, tomatoes, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon coriander and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally and slightly mashing the chickpeas with the back of a spoon, until the soup thickens slightly, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, slice the pitas into thin wedges. Toss with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon coriander and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until golden and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Stir the lemon juice into the soup just before serving. Top with cilantro and the pita chips.

RED PEPPER SOUP WITH GINGER AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Chop the peppers coarsely after discarding all the seeds.
• Pour the oil into a large, wide pan and set over medium-high heat. When hot, put in the peppers, onions, potatoes, ginger, fennel seeds, turmeric, cumin, and cayenne. Stir and fry until all the vegetables just start to brown. Add 2 cups of the stock and the salt. Stir and bring to a simmer. Cover, turn heat to low, and simmer gently for 25 minutes.
• Ladle the soup in batches into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the blended soup into a clean pot. Add the remaining stock, thinning the soup out as much as you like. Add the cream and mix it in. Adjust salt, as needed. Heat through before serving.

RED PEPPER BEAN DIP WITH TOASTED PITA CHIPS

Steps:

• Dip:.
• In a medium - sized pot combine the juice of the entire lemon and the olive oil and whisk.
• Add the Baked Beans and Stir.
• Add in the spices, Almonds and Garlic Cloves and Immersion Blend or place in the blender until smooth.
• Add the Red Peppers and Blend until Smooth.
• Place in a tight tupperware to chill.
• Pita Chips:.
• Preheat the oven to 350.
• Prepare a non greased cookie sheet.
• Combine the olive oil and spice in a bowl and stir quickly with a fork.
• Using an egg brush, brush both sides of each pita piece with the olive oil mixture and place on the pan.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes, until crisp but not burnt.
• Serve with the dip.

ANISE-SPICED SQUASH SOUP WITH FENNEL CHIPS

Steps:

• Make soup:
• Cook fennel, squash, onion, and anise seeds in butter in a 6- to 8-quart pot over moderate heat, covered, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes. Add water and simmer, covered, until squash is very tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Purée soup in batches in a blender (use caution when blending hot liquids) and season with salt and pepper.
• Make fennel chips:
• Preheat oven to 225°F.
• Boil water and sugar in a small saucepan, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add lemon juice. Cut fennel bulb lengthwise into paper-thin slices using a mandoline or other manual slicer. Pour sugar mixture over fennel in a bowl and let stand 5 minutes.
• Put Silpat or Exopat pad on a baking sheet. Shake off excess liquid from fennel slices and arrange on pad in 1 layer (don't let slices touch). Bake in middle of oven 1 hour, or until dry and crisp. Working quickly, carefully peel chips off liner and transfer to a rack to cool. Top soup with chips.
• *Available at bakeware shops and by mail order from Bridge Kitchenware, (800) 274-3435 or (212) 838-1901