I tried this soup at a fantastic restaurant called Mistral in Santa Rosa, California. It was the most incredible soup experience my taste buds have ever savored. This soup is a 3 part harmony: first a creamy, smooth texture of the eggplant followed by a pleasingly hot spicy taste of the pepper and finally an after taste of sweet pear ... so good that you wanted to take every spoonful slowly and let it play its music on your palette...... Lucinda Stone

Ingredients:

5 onions

1 head celery

3 large carrots

30 cloves garlic (smashed)

Cook onions, celery, carrots and garlic slowly, uncooked over low/medium heat until translucent. (*sweat **mire poix in oil.

7 Italian eggplants (peeled and large diced)

14 Red pepper (seeded and halved) - green bells can be substituted or 1/2 of each

2 or 3 Jalapenos (seeded and halved) - optional

14 pears (peeled, cored, and halved)

Take eggplants, peppers, and pears and coast with oil season to taste. Roast at 352 degrees until soft.

3 Tablespoons fresh Thyme

1 quart White rice or basmati cooked al dente

1-1/2 Tablespoons ground cumin

1 Tablespoon ground coriander

2 cups fresh parsley

5 heaping Tablespoons tomato paste

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/2 to 1/2 cup honey

9 quarts water

1/2 cup Salt (kosher if you have) or 1/3 cup or less if iodized

Mix **mire poix, roasted ingredients and the above and bring to a boil. Puree and strain. Salt and pepper to taste.

Note: You can add cream at finish if desired.

MAKES: 3-1/2 gallons

*Sweat: To cook slowly, uncovered, over low/medium heat with little fat until translucent.

**mire poix (mEEr-pwah) : a mixture of vegetables (usually onions, carrots, and celery, in the ratio of 2:1:1), added to stocks or sauces as a basic flavoring. Can be left plain, or browned in order to add color to a stock. Other vegetables are sometimes used, depending upon the desired flavor or colors of the finished stock.

• Mistral
  1229 North Dutton Avenue (College Ave.) Santa Rosa , CA 95401
  Phone: (707) 578-4511
  Cuisine: French , Mediterranean
  Mistral is a four-star restaurant with an award-winning Wine List. The bright modern dining room features a Wine Bar, private rooms for parties, and an Outdoor Terrace.
• You found this recipe on 1st Traveler's Choice Internet Cookbook. (www.virtualcities.com)

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