Smoky Tomato Soup (Vegan)

Heat a soup pot to medium heat with the olive oil. Add the carrots and celery. Stir, and cook for 3 minutes to soften slightly. Add the onion and cook for 2 minutes more. When the veggies are soft, add the garlic and a sprinkle of salt. Stir, and cook for two more minutes, then add the paprika and as much crushed red pepper as you’d like.

Sprinkle the flour over the veggies, and stir together with the seasonings. Add the beer and increase the heat to medium-high. Stir the beer into the veggies and allow the liquid to reduce by half, then add the tomatoes and a bit of stock. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for 10-20 minutes until the veggies are softened to your liking.

Before serving, blend the soup until nearly pureed with a blender or food processor. Taste, and add more salt or crushed red pepper to your taste. If the soup is too thick, add more stock a splash at a time to achieve the desired consistency.

Serve with a side of bread and topped with green onions or any other way you like. Enjoy!