Classic Leek And Potato Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add stock, potatoes, leeks, parsley, bouquet garni, bouillon cube, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.
• Remove soup from heat; discard bouquet garni. Puree soup in the pot using a hand blender.

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:

• Trim the green portions of the leek and, using 2 of the largest and longest leaves, make a bouquet garni by folding the 2 leaves around the bay leaves, peppercorns and thyme. Tie into a package-shaped bundle with kitchen twine and set aside. (Alternately, tie 2 leek leaves, bay leaves, peppercorns and thyme together in a piece of cheesecloth.)
• Using a sharp knife, halve the white part of the leek lengthwise and rinse well under cold running water to rid the leek of any sand. Slice thinly crosswise and set aside.
• In a large soup pot over medium heat, melt the butter and add the bacon. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is very soft and has rendered most of its fat. Add the chopped leeks and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and bring to a boil. Add the reserved bouquet garni, chicken stock, potatoes, salt and white pepper, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are falling apart and the soup is very flavorful.
• Remove the bouquet garni and, working in batches, puree the soup in a food processor or blender. (Alternately, if you own an immersion blender, puree the soup directly in the pot.) Stir in the creme fraiche and adjust the seasoning, if necessary. Serve immediately, with some of the snipped chives sprinkled over the top of each bowl of soup.

Steps:

• In a pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add leeks, celery, 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoons pepper and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until leeks are tender.
• Add potatoes, broth and 1 cup water; cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and boil gently, covered, for 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Remove from heat.
• In a blender, in batches, or with an immersion blender, purée about half the soup until smooth, leaving half chunky. Return to pot, if necessary.
• Stir in milk; heat over medium heat, stirring often, just until steaming (do not let boil).
• Stir in lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• COOKING TIPS: Be sure to wash leeks well - they often have sand hidden between the layers. Cut the leek in half lengthwise and rinse well; separate layers and rub out any grit, shake dry, then slice.

Steps:

• Wash the leeks, pat dry and cut into small dice. Dice onions and potatoes, set to one side.
• Heat the butter in a large saucepan, add the leaks and onions and cook gently, stirring for 2-3 minutes.
• Add stock and bring to the boil, simmer for 30 minutes then add the diced potatoes and simmer for a further 10 minutes.
• Cool slightly and and blend about 25% only for a few seconds, return to the pan, stir, adding salt and pepper to taste.
• Will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge, and freezes well.