THIS week’s dish is a spicy soup that’s easy to prepare but is very different from most things you can buy from a shop. However, it’s essential that the stock you use is of good quality. If you’re buying powdered stock or using stock cubes, check the ingredients and ignore those that have salt, monosodium glutamate, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate or similar or other flavour enhancers as their main ingredients (the first item on a product’s list of ingredients is the main one by volume, the second ingredient the second by volume and so on). Look for wholesome, recognisable ingredients such as onion, celery and carrot.

Serves four

  • 200g of chorizo sausage – chopped
  • Four red peppers – deseeded and chopped
  • Two cloves of garlic – chopped
  • Two plum tomatoes – chopped – you can use two or three from a tin of tomatoes
  • One pint of good chicken or vegetable stock
  • A good handful of fresh coriander – chopped
  • Salt and pepper to season – if necessary
  • Crème fraîche or plain yoghurt to finish

Heat a large saucepan and gently dry-fry the chorizo until it begins to release its oil. Remove from the pan.

In the resulting oil, gently fry the peppers, garlic and tomatoes until tender. Add the stock, bring to the boil and simmer for about ten minutes.

Add the chorizo and coriander and blitz in a food processor or liquidiser (or use a stick blender in the pan) until smooth, adding a little water if it appears too thick. Now taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary, but be wary because the sausage is already highly seasoned.

Pour into warmed soup bowls and finish each with a swirl or dollop of crème fraîche or yoghurt.

Serve with fresh crusty bread – something like basil and olive bread would be perfect.

Oldfields Eating House,
18 Claypath, Durham, DH1 1RH.
Tel: 0191-370-9595

  • For further recipes go to billoldfield.com
  • Oldfields Pantry ready meals are available from Fenwick in Newcastle or direct from the restaurant on Claypath in Durham on 0191-370-9595 or go to oldfieldspantry.co.uk
  • To join Oldfields’ free Real Food Club, visit oldfieldsrestaurants.com/realfood-club.asp