The flavor of La Madeleine’s Red Pepper Soup is truly unmatched. This delectable soup is crafted from fresh ingredients like red peppers, jalapenos, tomatoes, and a blend of seasonings. With this copycat recipe, you can experience the same amazing flavors in your own home.
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Red pepper soup
Red pepper tomato soup is a creamy soup that has a deep pepper flavor, usually made from either roasted or sauteed bell peppers. It contains other nutritious vegetables, seasonings, broth, and milk or cream.
This specific recipe from La Madeleine has all of that and more! You’ll love its bold flavor and silky mouthfeel. Dress it up with garnishes and impress your loved ones by bringing the flavors of La Madeleine into your kitchen.
What makes La Madeleine Red Pepper Soup so good?
This soup is made with fresh, whole ingredients, including garlic, basil, and spicy jalapenos, which perfectly complement the flavor of the red bell peppers. With tomato paste, heavy cream, chicken stock, and fresh herbs it has just the right amount of creamy and savory qualities.
When you sauté the red peppers with an array of delicious seasonings, it deepens their flavor and brings out the peppers’ sweet qualities. This is the perfect soup when you want something satisfying yet light!
Why you’ll love this recipe
There are many reasons to love this soup. First of all, it is extremely versatile! You can enjoy it for either lunch or dinner. Because of its simple yet enticing flavor, you can pair it with many different types of side dishes.
It is also easily adjustable for people who eat special diets, such as plant-based or gluten-free diets. This is a family-friendly recipe that people of all ages will enjoy. Yes, even the picky eaters will devour this.
Make your weeknights more exciting by introducing this recipe to your dinner rotation. After you make it once, I am confident you will want to make it over and over!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need for this delicious red pepper soup recipe:
- Olive oil
- Fennel seed
- Onion
- Thyme
- Bay leaf
- Garlic
- Fresh basil
- Red bell peppers
- Jalapenos
- All-purpose flour
- Chicken stock
- Tomato paste
- Tomatoes
- Heavy cream
- Salt and pepper
How can you pick out the best red bell peppers?
When selecting bell peppers for your soup, it’s important to pick ones that are shiny and firm to the touch. Peppers that are soft, wrinkled, or have visible blemishes indicate that they are no longer fresh and are beginning to spoil.
For optimal taste and quality, I suggest purchasing the peppers the same day or a day before making the soup. This way, you can ensure that the peppers are as fresh as possible and will add the most flavor to your dish.
How to make tomato red pepper soup
- Heat olive oil over medium heat in a heavy saucepan, large pot, or Dutch oven.
- Add the onions, fennel seeds, thyme, bay leaf, garlic, basil, red pepper, and jalapeno.
- Lower the heat and saute the vegetables until wilted.
- Add flour and stir for about 10 minutes to cook the flour.
- Slowly add the chicken stock, tomato paste, and tomatoes, whisking until smooth.
- Bring it to a boil then reduce the heat to medium. Cook the soup, partially covered, for 45 minutes.
- Puree the soup in a blender or food processor or use an immersion blender.
- Return puree to the pan, add cream, and simmer for 10 minutes longer.
- Adjust the seasonings and add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve the soup topped with a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt and garnish with fresh basil.
Recipe variations
This recipe can be modified in many different ways to make it more suitable for you and your preferences. Here are some ideas:
- Make it plant-based: Do you want to make a vegetarian or vegan red pepper soup? To make it vegetarian, you only need to replace the chicken stock with vegetable broth or stock. To make it vegan, replace the stock and substitute the heavy cream for a vegan-friendly option. You can use plant-based milk and add slightly less than one cup, so the soup isn’t too thin. There are also versions of vegan heavy cream that you can purchase.
- Make the soup gluten-free. This variation is easy since the majority of ingredients naturally don’t contain gluten! You only need to worry about substituting the all-purpose flour for gluten-free flour, and you’ll be good to go.
- Make the soup dairy-free. For those with lactose intolerance, substitute the dairy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream.
- Make the soup heartier. You can always include other mix-ins to give the soup more substance. For example, add shredded chicken or ravioli just before serving.
- Add some spice. Although this soup contains fresh jalapenos, you can add more spice by including some cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, or red pepper flakes.
- Give it a hint of sweetness. Add some diced or shredded carrots along with the red peppers.
What to serve with red bell peppers soup
This soup tastes extra delicious when paired with a sandwich like La Madeleine Croque Monsieur, an elegant ham and cheese. A grilled cheese sandwich is also a great option. It’s also yummy when served with dinner rolls or crusty bread, which you can dip in the soup! Or, serve it in a bread bowl.
Salads you can try with it include classic chicken Caesar salad, kale salad, or even something heartier, like a steak salad.
How to store the leftovers
If you have leftovers, don’t worry; soup is very easy to store! Wait for it to cool slightly before you place it in an airtight container. If you put it in the container and close the lid while it is still hot, there will be a ton of condensation from the steam.
Store the soup in the refrigerator for up to five days or in the freezer for up to three months.
What is the best way to reheat red pepper soup?
Reheat this soup on the stovetop by covering it and placing it over medium-low heat. Make sure to stir it occasionally. Add a splash of cream or stock if needed to thin it out.
Individual portions can be microwaved by covering them and stirring them every 30 seconds until heated.
More La Madeleine copycat recipes
Favorite soup recipes
- Autumn Squash Soup
- Bistro French Onion Soup
- Black Bean Soup
- Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- Cowboy Soup
- Cream of Celery Soup
- Dixie Stampede Soup
- Pumpkin Curry Soup
- Taco Soup
- Ultimate Potato Soup
Check out more of my easy soup recipes and the best copycat restaurant recipes on CopyKat!
La Madeleine Red Pepper Soup
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil
- 6 red bell peppers seeds and ribs removed, diced
- 2 tablespoons minced jalapeño pepper seeds and ribs removed
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 5 cups chicken stock
- 2 teaspoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup chopped tomato
- 1 cup heavy cream
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, fennel seeds, thyme, bay leaf, garlic, basil, red pepper, and jalapeño pepper. Reduce the heat to low and sauté until softened, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Add the flour and continue cooking over low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Add the chicken stock and tomato paste and whisk until smooth. Add the chopped tomato and stir.
- Partially cover the saucepan and cook for about 45 minutes over medium heat.
- Puree the soup in a blender or food processor.
- Return the puree to the saucepan, add cream, and simmer for about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Liz Nelson
I love this soup. I have been looking for the recipe for awhile. I’ve tried other recipes but nothing ever comes out even close. I’ll try this one.