California Pizza Kitchen Potato Leek Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a large wide pot over medium heat. Add the garlic, leeks and onion and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until soft and not browned, about 12 minutes. Raise the heat to medium-high, pour in the wine and continue to cook, uncovered, until almost dry, about 4 minutes.
• Add the potatoes, bay leaf, thyme, 7 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook, covered, until the potatoes are very tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
• Remove and discard the thyme and bay leaf. Working in batches, transfer the mixture to a blender and carefully puree until smooth, taking care not to fill the carafe more than half full per batch, or puree with an immersion blender in the pot. Reheat the soup over medium heat until steaming.
• Whisk in the cream and lemon juice. Adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves, a drizzle of oil and a frizzled leeks or shallot if using.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. Drizzle a baking sheet with olive oil.
• In a skillet, fry the bacon over medium heat until cooked but not crisp; remove and set aside. Pour off most of the grease but do not clean the skillet. Return the skillet to the stove and turn the heat to medium low. Add the leeks and saute until soft, about 3 minutes.
• Pull or roll the bread dough into a rectangle and place on the oiled baking sheet. Drizzle the dough with olive oil. Arrange the potatoes in a single layer all over the crust, slightly overlapping the edges. Sprinkle the potatoes lightly with salt, then lay the mozzarella slices in a single layer on top of the potatoes. Arrange the leeks on top of the cheese. Sprinkle the fried bacon pieces over the top, followed by a generous addition of crumbled goat cheese, grated Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper.
• Bake until the edges of the crust are golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly, 11 to 13 minutes. Cut into squares and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Set aside 2 tablespoons of the butter in the refrigerator. Heat the remaining butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, leeks, and garlic and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 12 minutes. Raise the heat to high, pour in the vermouth, and cook, uncovered, until almost dry, about 4 minutes.
• Add the potatoes, water, and salt. Tie the parsley, thyme, and bay leaf together with a piece of kitchen twine and add to the soup. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer, covered, until the potatoes are very tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• When the potato mixture has cooled, remove and discard the herb bundle. Working in batches, transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth, or puree with an immersion blender. Return the puree to the pot and re-heat over medium heat.
• Whisk in the reserved 2 tablespoons butter, heavy cream, and lemon juice into the soup and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Divide among warm soup bowls, garnish with the chives, and serve immediately.
• Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved