Classic Potato Leek Soup Recipes

POTATO LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter over medium heat in a large soup pot. Add the leeks and garlic and cook, stirring regularly, until soft and wilted, about 10 minutes. Adjust the heat as necessary so as not to brown.
• Add the potatoes, broth, bay leaves, thyme, salt and pepper to pot and bring to a boil. Cover and turn the heat down to low. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are very soft.
• Fish out the thyme sprig and bay leaves, then purée the soup with a hand-held immersion blender until smooth. (Alternatively, use a standard blender to purée the soup in batches; see note.) Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. If soup is too thin, simmer until thickened. If it's too thick, add water or stock to thin it out. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
• Note: If using a standard blender to purée the soup: be sure not to fill the jar more than halfway; leave the hole in the lid open and cover loosely with a dishtowel to allow the heat to escape; and pour blended soup into a clean pot.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The soup can be frozen, without the cream, for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator for 12 hours and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until hot. Once heated through, add the cream and bring to a simmer before serving.

LEEK & POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Trim, peel and roughly slice the carrots and celery. Peel and roughly chop the onions. Peel and finely slice the garlic.
• Cut the ends off the leeks, quarter them lengthways, wash them under running water and cut them into 1cm slices.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large pan on a high heat, add all the chopped and sliced ingredients and cook with the lid ajar for 10 minutes, or until softened, stirring regularly.
• Meanwhile, peel the potatoes and cut them into 1cm cubes.
• Put the stock cubes into a jug or pan, pour in 1.8 litres of boiling water and stir to dissolve, then pour into the veg pan.
• Add the potatoes. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes with the lid on, then remove from the heat.
• Season to taste with sea salt and black pepper, then either serve like this or pulse until smooth using a stick blender or liquidizer.

LEEK AND POTATO SOUP

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.

IRRESISTIBLE FRENCH POTATO AND LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Trim and discard the green tops and root ends of the leeks. Halve the leeks lengthwise and swish the stalks thoroughly in cold water to remove dirt and sand. If desired, rinse the stalks under running water as well.
• Drain the leeks, dry with a paper towel, and slice into thin, even strips .
• Melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the leeks and sauté them until tender but not browned. This should take about 4 minutes.
• Add the potatoes, chicken stock, bouquet garni, salt, and pepper, and bring the soup to a simmer.
• Cook the soup for 25 to 30 minutes, until the vegetables are very tender. To check the potatoes, poke one with a paring knife: If the knife cuts through with little resistance, remove the pan from heat.
• Put aside a few leeks for garnish. Remove and discard the bouquet garni.
• Puree the soup until smooth and silky using a blender , food processor, or immersion blender. Do this in small batches, to avoid splatters and burns.
• Carefully transfer the hot potato and leek soup back to the saucepan and stir in the heavy cream.
• Gently heat the soup-avoid boiling it as high temperatures could curdle the cream.
• Garnish with reserved leeks and serve immediately with a side of crusty bread or a sandwich. Or, if desired, chill the soup in the refrigerator and serve it in the traditional French style.

POTATO AND LEEK SOUP (POTAGE PARMENTIER)

Steps:

• Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for a few minutes until onion becomes translucent. Add leek and potatoes and cook, stirring, for a few minutes until leek softens.
• Season the vegetables with salt, pepper and thyme, then add 2 cups of stock, or enough to cover the vegetables, and the bay leaf. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to medium and leave to simmer, covered, for 20 minutes or until potatoes soften.
• Remove the bay leaf, then puree the soup with a hand held immersion blender until smooth. Add in more stock slowly whilst blending to get the soup to your desired consistency.
• Add the cream and bring to a simmer. Taste the soup and adjust salt & pepper if required. Serve topped with extra heavy cream and/ or shredded cheddar cheese.

CLASSIC POTATO LEEK 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.

POTATO LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Wash leeks very carefully to remove all grit. I usually cut them horizontally and separate the rings to make sure no dirt remains. Coarsely chop them when washed.
• In a medium soup pot, melt butter and add flour on low flame.
• Using a wooden spoon, mix well. This will thicken your soup and give it a wonderful flavor.
• Add chicken stock, leeks, onion, potatoes and bring to a boil.
• Cover and simmer on low for about 20-25 minutes, until potatoes are soft.
• Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth adding the milk and adjusting salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve immediately.

CLASSIC LEEK AND POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Melt 2 Tbsp butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the leek and onion and sauté lightly until they are translucent.
• Add the potatoes, stock, and spices. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer until tender, approximately 15 minutes.
• Remove from the heat, cool a little, then process in a blender until smooth (or blend with an immersion blender. It's tidier and simpler, but might not puree as silky smooth).
• Return soup to pot and return to heat. Add the cream and remaining Tbsp of butter, stirring until the butter is melted. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
• Serve with a sprinkle of chives if you like (They, too, should still be kicking around in your garden. Gotta love those alliums!).

CLASSIC POTATO LEEK SOUP

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.