Food & Wine Chickie Insider

There’s something magical about combining smoke and soup. On a slightly chilly Sunday, I decided to fire up my Recteq pellet smoker and experiment with smoked tomatoes, red bell peppers, and onions. The result? A creamy tomato bisque that’s rich, comforting, and layered with flavor.

Why Smoke Your Veggies?

Smoking vegetables adds depth and complexity that you just can’t get from roasting or sautéing. The gentle heat and wood smoke infuse the tomatoes and peppers with a subtle sweetness and a hint of char that elevates this classic soup.

This smoked tomato bisque is perfect for cozy evenings or as a starter for a fall dinner party. The smoky undertones make it stand out from traditional tomato soups, and it’s surprisingly easy to make.

🛒 Ingredients

Smoked Vegetables

• 12 Roma tomatoes, halved
• 2 large red peppers, quartered
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp each, salt and pepper

Soup Base

• 3/4 cup loosely packed basil leaves, coarsely chopped
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp each, salt and pepper
• 16 ounces chicken broth (use vegetable broth for a vegetarian soup)
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

🔥 Smoking Instructions

1. Preheat your smoker (I use a Recteq pellet smoker) to 225°F.
2. Arrange tomato halves and red pepper pieces on a baking rack, skin side down.
3. Place chopped onion in a small metal dish.
4. Drizzle olive oil over all vegetables and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
5. Smoke for 2 hours.

🍲 Soup Assembly

1. Transfer smoked vegetables to a blender (I use a Vitamix).
2. Add basil, sugar, salt, pepper, and chicken broth. Pulse for one minute until mostly smooth.
3. Pour the mixture into a saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low, stir in the cream, and simmer for another 5 minutes.
5. Serve hot and enjoy!

🥄 Yield

Serves 6

Cheers,
Veronique