3333. SMOKY RED PEPPER SOUP with MAPLE CANDIED BACON

Smoky Red Pepper Soup
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 large red bell peppers, chopped
3 medium carrots, chopped
1 large sweet onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger
3 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground coriander
5 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Heat olive oil in large soup pot over medium high heat. Add bell peppers, carrots, and onions and cook 12 to 15 minutes or until onion is golden, stirring frequently. Add garlic, tomato paste, ginger, paprika, and coriander and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add broth and bay leaves; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, 25 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Discard bay leaves. Transfer soup in two batches to a blender, blending until smooth and returning to soup pot.  Add salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve topped with maple candied bacon (recipe below).

Maple Candied Bacon
1/2 pound sliced nitrate free bacon (7-8 slices)
1/2 cup maple syrup

Preheat oven to 400′F. Place bacon a baking sheet. I use an ugly one that I don’t mind staining. Covering the baking sheet with foil isn’t a good idea because the candied bacon sticks to pretty much everything. You can also use a pyrex baking dish, but it’s just as hard to clean. Place bacon in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and pour off the grease.Turn oven temperature down to 350′F. Pour maple syrup over bacon slices. Return to oven and bake for 20-25 more minutes, until syrup is thick and well, candy-like. Flip the bacon slices several times during this time. Remove from oven and place bacon slices on a plate to harden. Serve in strips, or crumble into the soup.


bacon recipe source: Elizabeth, three beans on a string, April 1, 2014