Truffled Jerusalem Artichoke Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Brush and scrub Jerusalem artichokes under cold running water. Cut them into 1/4inch slices and toss with lemon juice. Melt butter in a 4quart nonreactive saucepan. Add leek, carrot and Jerusalem artichokes with the lemon juice. Cover and cook over gentle heat for 20 minutes. Add 2 1/2 cups stock or water, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cover and simmer for another 25 minutes. When cooked, remove from the heat and puree the soup with an additional 1/2 cup stock, or water and cream. Pass puree through a drum sieve. Return soup to a clean saucepan and reheat.
• Ladle soup into warm soup bowls and dust each portion with fresh grated nutmeg.

Steps:

• I brought a handful of Jerusalem Artichokes home from the market, washed and roasted them (skin and all) in the oven with a simple drizzle of olive oil, sea salt, and pepper. I cooked them all the way through as I would a baked potato. I tried roasting them a second time replacing the olive oil with hazelnut oil for even tastier results. Now, the vegetable risks to take over my produce life as I know it! I cut some into thin rounds, fried them and sprinkled them over an arugula salad. Delicious. I thought I had reached my peak with these preparations until I tasted this soup...The combination of roasting and stewing them yields a complex flavor.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place 1/2 the Jerusalem artichokes on a baking sheet. Drizzle them with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the tray in the center of the oven and cook until they are completely yielding when pierced with the tip of a knife, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, slice the rest of the Jerusalem artichokes in 1/2-inch thick slices. Heat a medium pot and add the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes. Add the thyme and the Jerusalem artichokes slices and stir to blend the ingredients. Check the seasoning. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes and add 4 cups water.
• Cook until the Jerusalem artichokes are completely tender, 25 to 30 minutes. If the liquid reduces too much during this cooking time, add the remaining 1 cup water. Remove the roasted ones from the oven, quarter them and add them directly to the soup mixture. Taste for seasoning.
• Remove the thyme from the pot. Add the cream. Puree the soup in small batches in the blender (or a hand blender) until smooth. For a more "rustic" texture, puree only 1/2 and leaving the other 1/2 "chunky." Serve with crusty sourdough or a seeded bread to bring out the naturally nutty flavor of the soup.
• Serving suggestion: Crusty sourdough bread or seeded bread.

Steps:

• When you are preparing the artichokes, drop them into water with a bit of lemon juice or vinegar as you go so they don't discolour. Drain before adding to the recipe later.
• Start the soup by sauteing the onions in the oil for a couple minutes.
• Add the turnips and artichokes. Fry for 3 - 4 minutes, then put the lid on and sweat for 5 minutes, stirring once or twice to avoid sticking.
• You may need to add 1/4 cup water if things start to stick to the pot.
• Rinse the lentils in a sieve then add to the vegetables with the stock. Stir well and bring to the boil.
• Boil for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Simmer for about 25 minutes.
• Remove the bay leaf.
• Liquidise if preferred, then season to taste.

Steps:

• Bring 8 cups broth to boil in large saucepan. Peel Jerusalem artichokes and cut into 1/3-inch thick pieces. Add to broth. Add potatoes, leeks, garlic, savory and ginger. Cover pan and simmer until vegetables are very soft, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in marjoram; cool about 20 minutes.
• Working in batches, purée soup in blender until smooth. Return to same saucepan. Bring soup to simmer. Add cream. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors, thinning with more chicken broth if soup is too thick. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated. Rewarm soup over medium-low heat before continuing.) Ladle soup into bowls; sprinkle with green onion and serve.