Crab and Roasted Red Pepper Bisque

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup flour
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 12-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 pound fresh lump crabmeat or canned crab
1 teaspoon Old Bay or Cajun seasoning
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons salt

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Directions:
Heat the olive oil over medium heat and sauté the onion until tender and translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for another minute.
While the onion is cooking, melt the butter over medium-high heat in a large pot. Once the butter is melted, whisk in the flour until smooth and cook for a minute (or until the mixture starts to brown).
Then, add the chicken broth, red peppers, tomato paste, crabmeat (if you want to garnish the soup with crabmeat, reserve a few ounces), Old Bay, cayenne pepper, and onion to the pot. Let the mixture simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until smooth.
Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth (you could also use an electric blender and puree in batches, returning the soup to the pot when it is pureed).
Add the heavy cream, red wine vinegar, and salt to the pot and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes, or until heated all the way through.
Garnish with crab meat, if you reserved any, and/or a swirl of half and half if desired.  Serves 4