Ilas 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:

• 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:

• To cook the clams, place them in a heavy large skillet. Cover with the water and wine. Bring to a boil, cover the skillet, then reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes, shaking the skillet occasionally. With tongs, remove the clams that have opened and place them on a tray. Recover and cook for up to 3 to 4 more minutes. Discard any clams that have not opened. Line a fine sieve with a dampened paper towel. Strain the cooking liquid through the sieve into a heavy large saucepan.
• For the soup, add the leeks and potatoes to the saucepan with cooking liquid. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender, for about 15 minutes. Add the cream. Coarsely mash the potatoes in the broth to thicken, using a mallet or potato masher. Season with salt and pepper. (This can be prepared ahead and cooled. Cover the clams and soup and set aside at cool room temperature for up to several hours.)
• To serve, remove the clams from their shells and mince. Pour any liquid from the shells back into the soup through the sieve and discard the shells. Thin the soup with additional liquid if necessary. Bring to a boil, stirring over medium-high heat. Add minced clams. Ladle into 4 soup bowls. Sprinkle with chives. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Wash leeks, trim off root ends and green leaves, then chop white part in food processor. Mash half of the potatoes and cut remaining potatoes into small cubes.
• Melt butter in stock pot. Add leeks and saute, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes and taking care that the leeks don't turn brown. Stir in broth, dill, salt, pepper and bay leaves. Combine half and half and flour stirring till smooth. Whish half and half into soup and cook till slightly thickened.
• Stir in mashed and cubed potatoes, simmering for 10-15 minutes. Remove bay leaves and stir in sour cream.
• Garnish with fresh dill - serve.

Steps:

• Melt 50g butter in a heavy saucepan. When it foams, add 450g potatoes, cut into 1cm cubes, 1 small onion, cut the same as the potatoes, and 450g white parts of leeks, sliced and toss them in the butter until they are well coated.
• Season well with salt and freshly ground pepper and toss again. Put a disc of greaseproof paper (called a cartouche by chefs) on top of the vegetables to keep in the steam), then cover the pan with its lid.
• Cook over a gentle heat for 10 mins, or until the vegetables are soft but not coloured.
• Uncover the pan and discard the paper. Pour in 850ml of the light chicken or vegetable stock, bring to the boil and simmer until the vegetables are just cooked - about 5 minutes. Do not overcook or the soup will lose its fresh flavour.
• Purée in a blender until silky smooth, in batches if necessary, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Return the soup to a clean pan and stir in three quarters of a 142ml carton of whipping cream and 125ml full-fat milk.
• To finish the soup, finely shred the white part of 1 leek and gently cook it in a small knob of hot butter for a few mins until it is softened but not coloured.
• Reheat the soup to a gentle simmer (add some extra stock at this point if the soup is too thick for your liking), then pour into warmed bowls.
• Drizzle the remaining cream over each serving, top with a little pile of buttered leeks and a scattering of chives and black pepper and serve at once.