Double Sign Soup Ontario-America

Ingredients

• 2 liters vegetable stock
• 2 red onions
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 red bell peppers
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon paprika powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 lemon (juice)
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 baguette
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Finely chop the onions and garlic. Dice the bell peppers.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a soup pot. Sauté onion and garlic until translucent.
3. Add bell pepper and cook for 3 minutes.
4. Stir in tomato paste, paprika powder, and cayenne pepper. Briefly fry.
5. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 minutes.
6. Blend the soup until smooth. Add lemon juice, vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste.
7. Cut the baguette into 8 thick, rectangular slices. Toast them golden brown in the oven (200°C, 8 minutes).
8. Brush 4 croutons with maple syrup, 4 with olive oil and sprinkle these with extra cayenne pepper.
9. Pour the soup into deep bowls. Place 4 maple croutons on one side (Canada), 4 cayenne croutons on the other (USA), forming two rows of signboards.

Serving notes

• Serve with a lemon wedge on the rim for extra tang.
• Let the croutons stand just in the soup so the signboard silhouette remains visible.