Potato Leek Soup
Recipe: Potato Leek Soup
Potato Leek Soup is a comforting, cozy, creamy and easy to make soup. Makes an excellent winter soup for the whole family. Serve it as starter during a party. This French traditional soup is made with potatoes, leek and broth or stock. Adding cream is optional. For those who have travelled by the Nairobi Mombasa train may have tasted Potato Leek Soup. It was served as a starter. If it is not Potato Leek Soup then it would be Tomato Soup. Many of the Game Park Lodges serve potato leek soup. I love making this soup as it is so easy to make and doesn’t require too many ingredients. Just need good quality potatoes and fresh leek.
To Make A Roux Or Not
Some recipes call for roux, that is a making a paste of flour. Butter is heated and flour is stir fried till it becomes light pink in colour. And then milk is added. I seriously see no need of adding flour to this soup as the potatoes do the job of thickening the soup. However, the choice is yours.
Memories
It has actually been a long time since I made potato leek soup. Back in Kenya, rainy season meant that the leek would be tender and fresh. Though it would never get cold in Mombasa, rainy season is when I would make soups for the family to enjoy. Though it rains in Mombasa, you seriously don’t need a sweater. And now things are so different. Here in Canada, we have learned to dress up in layers. Summer season tend to be quite short. Don’t get me wrong, I love these change of seasons.
Sharing This Recipe With Foodies_Redoing Old Posts
This year it seems that the snow and cold weather has arrived earlier. It is actually the best time to enjoy hot homemade soups. Frankly, I am not a fan of those packet soups, though hubby loves them. When it is easy to put together a few vegetables to make a soup, why buy the packet soups which are loaded with preservatives, cornstarch and additives? The commensal brand soups available in the local supermarket are good, so sometimes I buy those. They do not have any preservatives and are fresh.
I had first posted Potato Leek Soup recipe on 14/05/2013. Updating it on 15/12/2023
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Ingredients Required For Potato Leek Soup
Leek
Choose tender leek. You will need 2-3 depending on the size. Trim the root end and the dark green leaves. The leaves don’t cook too well as they are fibrous. I prefer to chop the leek and then wash it in a colander under running water. Sometimes the dirt gets in between the leaves.
Potatoes
Peel and cut them into large chunks. Best to use potatoes that are good for mashing. In Kenya I used red Meru potatoes. In Canada I use russet or the yellow potatoes. I use about 2-3 medium sized potatoes.
Celery
Add 1 stalk chopped if you have any. Adds flavour to the soup. If you don’t have any, omit it.
Garlic
Need about 1-2 cloves of garlic depending on how big they are. Add according to your taste. Peel and chop it into chunks.
Butter
I love using butter for this soup. If you don’t want to use butter then replace it with olive oil
Water/Stock
Will need about 3 cups. I add vegetable stock powder or cube to the water and mix it. Usually 1 tbsp of stock powder or 1 cube is enough.
Milk
I have used dairy milk. For a vegan version, add any plant based milk. Almond or oat milk would be a good choice.
Herbs
Used dried herbs or fresh. I add thyme whenever I get some. I also add a bay leaf. When fresh herbs are not available then I prefer to use Herbs de Provence.
Salt
Add according to your taste.
Pepper
Freshly cracked black pepper adds so much flavour to this soup. If you don’t have any whole black peppercorns then add pepper powder.
Fresh Cream
For a more rich and creamy soup add it at the end. This is an optional ingredient.
Watch How To Prepare Potato Leek Soup
POTATO LEEK SOUP
Ingredients
- 2 big leek chopped, approx 3 cups
- 3 medium potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 stalk celery sliced
- 1-2 cloves garlic peeled and chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 cups water
- 1 tsp dried herbs or a sprig or two of fresh thyme
- 1 tbsp vegetable stock powder or 1 cube
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup fresh cream
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper powder
Instructions
- Trim the dark green leaves and the root end of the leeks. Cut into slices. I also added a bit of the tender green part. Wash the chopped leeks thoroughly to remove any soil.
- Peel the garlic and chop it into big pieces.
- Peel, wash and chop the potatoes into chunks.
- Wash the celery stalk properly and cut into slices.
- Heat butter in a deep pan over medium heat.
- When the butter melts, add garlic and bay leaf. Saute till the garlic appears light pinkish in colour.
- Add celery. Saute for a minute.
- Add potatoes and leek. Mix well.
- Lower the heat and cover the pan. Let the vegetables 'sweat' for 5 minutes.
- Add the water and vegetable stock powder or cube. Stir.
- Cover the pan, lower the heat and allow the mixture to simmer till the potatoes are cooked completely.
- Using a stick blender, puree the cooked mixture till it becomes smooth. If you want to you can strain the soup. I don't.
- Allow the soup to heat up on low heat.
- Add milk, salt, pepper and cream.
- Mix well and serve.
- Serve with your favourite bread or croutons.
Notes
- Can add a dash of cream before serving.
- If you find the soup too thick then add a little bit more of water or milk.
- If you omit the cream then replace it with milk.
- If you use ready made stock instead of water, then you will need less salt.
- To make quick croutons, cut bread into cubes. Heat some butter or olive oil in a wide pan. Add the bread cubes and herbs and keep on stirring till they become crunchy.
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11 Comments
Beena.stephy
May 14, 2013 at 4:05 pm
Yummy soup
Priya Srinivasan
December 20, 2023 at 4:07 am
Oh this is the season for soups! I get that about weather, you know the weather here in dubai 😉 we have just summer and W in winter😂 I can enjoy a bowl of soup anytime, easy way to adda variety of veggies and flavors to our meal plate. Potato leek soup looks inviting, the way you have served with bread, makes me want to make some for my self.
mayurisjikoni
December 20, 2023 at 2:58 pm
Thanks Priya. Enjoy the creamy soup. Dubai too can get a little cold during winter. So good time to enjoy soups.
Renu
December 28, 2023 at 12:09 pm
I love leek and potato soup and make it often. However I do not add celery in it, Next time will try with celery.
mayurisjikoni
December 29, 2023 at 7:00 pm
Thanks Renu, I like to add celery whenever possible. It adds a lovely subtle flavour to the soup.
Veena Krishnakumar
December 29, 2023 at 7:21 am
Winter is here and soups are in. This soup recipe just fits the bill. For some strange reason , I have never used potato in soups and after seeing this recipe , makes me want to try it soon. Will do it and let you know. The picture is so inviting Mayuri, love the soup and the bread in that.
mayurisjikoni
December 29, 2023 at 6:57 pm
Thank you so much Veena, please let me know if you enjoyed the soup. I usually try and avoid flour to thicken a soup if possible. So I tend to use potatoes.
Archana
January 5, 2024 at 11:41 pm
I never make the plain potato leek soup was never confident of the recipes I saw. Now this soup recipe will be a game changer. Comes from someone whose recipes are great. I happen to have leek and so tonight it’s potato leek soup for us.!
mayurisjikoni
January 7, 2024 at 6:11 pm
Thanks Archana,this traditional and classic soup is so easy to make, go ahead and try it.
Jayashree T Rao
January 6, 2024 at 9:13 am
Potato and Leek Soup looks flavoursome. It was long back I had tasted it but never made it in my kitchen. Now, I can make it with your recipe.
mayurisjikoni
January 7, 2024 at 6:02 pm
Thank you so much Jayashree. This is a classic traditional soup, do try it out.