Iceland + Red Peppers; Cold Icelandic Pepper Soup

Difficulty:
1/5

Ease of Preparation: Medium

Yield: Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

  • 6-8 red peppers
  • 1 lemon, thinly sliced
  • 1 medium red onion thinly sliced
  • 2 ½ cups (590 ml) water
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) kosher salt, plus more to season
  • 1 cup (240 ml) distilled vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) sugar
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) mustard seed
  • 2 teaspoons (10 ml) juniper berries
  • 2 teaspoons (10 ml) black peppercorns
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 cloves
  • ½ cup (120 ml) skyr
  • Pumpernickel croutons, to garnish
  • Dill sprigs, to garnish

Method:

Char the skins of the red peppers over the flames of a burner. Place the charred peppers into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap to steam and loosen the skins, 10-12 minutes.

Rub the skins away with a clean kitchen towel. Discard the stems, ribs and seeds of the peppers, and tear into strips. Place the strips in a glass jar, top with the lemon and red onion, and reserve.

Tie the mustard seeds, juniper berries and peppercorns into a sachet.

In a saucepan, combine water, salt, sugar, vinegar, mustard, juniper, and peppercorns and bring to a boil. Heat only until the salt and sugar has dissolved, then carefully pour the liquid with the sachet over the peppers.

Cover the jar and allow the peppers to pickle for 2 hours.

Drain the peppers, discarding the lemon slices and onions, and transfer to a blender.

Add the skyr to the blender and begin to blend, slowly at first, moving up to high, until completely smooth and blended, 1-2 minutes. Season with salt.

Pour the soup into chilled bowls, garnish with Pumpernickel Croutons and dill, and serve immediately.