Classic Potato Leek Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine the potatoes and leeks on a sheet pan in a single layer. Add the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and toss to coat the vegetables evenly. Roast for 40 to 45 minutes, turning them with a spatula a few times during cooking, until very tender. Add the arugula and toss to combine. Roast for 4 to 5 more minutes, until the arugula is wilted. Remove the pan from the oven and place over 2 burners. Stir in the wine and 1 cup of the chicken stock and cook over low heat, scraping up any crispy roasted bits sticking to the pan.
• In batches, transfer the roasted vegetables to a food processor fitted with the steel blade, adding the pan liquid and about 5 cups of the chicken stock to make a puree. Pour the puree into a large pot or Dutch oven. Continue to puree the vegetables in batches until they're all done and combined in the large pot. Add enough of the remaining 1 to 2 cups of stock to make a thick soup. Add the cream, creme fraiche, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and check the seasonings.
• When ready to serve, reheat the soup gently and whisk in 2 tablespoons white wine and 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Serve hot with an extra grating of Parmesan and crispy shallots, if using.
• Heat the oil and butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat until it reaches 220 degrees F on a candy thermometer.
• Reduce the heat to low, add the shallots, and cook for 30 to 40 minutes, until they are a rich golden brown. The temperature should stay below 260 degrees F. Stir the shallots occasionally to make sure they brown evenly. Remove them from the oil with a slotted spoon, drain well, and spread out to cool on paper towels. Once they have dried and crisped, they can be stored at room temperature, covered, for several days.

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:

• Slice leeks lengthwise and wash out any dirt between the layers. Chop and place in a large mixing bowl with garlic.
• Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add leeks and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Add potatoes, vegetable broth, Italian seasoning, and rosemary. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let soup cool briefly. Transfer mixture to a blender or food processor and puree in batches. Return soup to the pot and stir in half-and-half and season with black pepper. Reheat gently, about 5 minutes.

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks; stir to coat with butter. Cover saucepan; cook until leeks are tender, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Add potatoes. Cover and cook until potatoes begin to soften but do not brown, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Add 4 1/2 cups stock. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 30 minutes.
• Puree soup in batches in processor until smooth. Return to saucepan. Thin with additional stock if soup is too thick. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Bring soup to simmer. Ladle into bowls. Garnish with chives and serve.

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add potatoes, leeks, and celery; cook and stir until leeks are tender, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir in broth, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cover and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer 4 cups soup into a blender. Remove the top insert of the blender and cover with a paper towel; puree until smooth. Add puree back to the Dutch oven.
• Stir in heavy cream and cook over medium-low until slightly thickened, 10 to 15 more minutes. Ladle into bowls and garnish with crumbled bacon.