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.
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.