Leek And Thyme 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.

MUSHROOM AND LEEK SOUP WITH THYME CREAM

Steps:

• Using electric mixer, beat cream just until soft peaks form. Fold in 2 teaspoons thyme. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours to blend flavors. (Thyme cream can be made up to 1 day ahead. If cream separates, whisk until soft peaks re-form. ) Remove from refrigerator 1 hour before serving to come to room temperature.
• In 4-quart stock pot over moderately high heat, heat 2 tablespoons butter until hot but not smoking. Working in 2 batches (add 2 more tablespoons butter before second batch), cook mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Transfer to large bowl.
• In same stock pot over moderate heat, heat remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Stir in leeks, cover, and cook, stirring often, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add cooked mushrooms, sprinkle with flour, and stir until flour is evenly distributed. Stir in stock, then salt, pepper, and remaining 1 teaspoon thyme. Bring to boil, stirring often, then reduce heat to low, set lid ajar, and simmer 20 minutes. (Soup can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated, covered. Reheat before serving.)
• Divide soup among 8 bowls and top each portion with dollop of thyme cream. Serve immediately.

ROASTED GARLIC-THYME SOUP

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan heat the olive oil over very low heat. Add the celery, onion, carrots, leek and thyme. Cook for about 30 minutes, until very soft and brown. Stir occasionally and keep the heat low to prevent the vegetables from burning. Add the bay leaves, peppercorns, and stock, increase the heat and bring the liquid to a boil. Immediately reduce the heat to very low and simmer, covered for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain the stock into a clean pan, pressing down on the solids to extract all their flavor. Discard the solids. Add the large bunch of thyme to the broth and simmer actively for 15 minutes. Strain again and add the roasted garlic cloves, cream, salt and pepper. Taste for seasoning and serve in heated cream soup bowls. Sprinkle the toasted croutes with a little Parmesan. Top each bowl with a toasted croute and a sprig of thyme.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. With a sharp knife, slice off the very top of the garlic, just to expose most of the cloves (this will make them easier to squeeze out after cooking). Make a doubled layer of aluminum foil about 6 by 6 inches square. Place the garlic in the center and bring up the sides a little to form a cup. Drizzle over the olive oil and add the oregano, salt and pepper. Bring the sides all the way up and twist together to make a firm seal. Place in the oven and roast for 20 to 25 minutes. Open the top so the garlic will stop cooking and set aside until cool enough to handle. Squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skins and discard the skins.

LEEK AND THYME SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in large saucepan.
• Add leeks and sprig of thyme, cover and cook 4-5 min until soft.
• Add potato and just enough cold water to cover vegetables.
• Cover and cook on low 30 minutes.
• Stir in milk and season with salt and pepper.
• Cover and simmer 30 min more; some of potato breaks up, leaving you with a thick semi-pureed effect.
• Remove sprig of thyme: the leaves will have fallen into the soup.
• Dish up 4 servings into soup bowls; just before serving stir 1 Tbs cream into each bowl.

POTATO LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• In a medium Dutch oven, heat the oil and butter over medium heat. Add the potatoes, leeks and celery. Cook, stirring, until the leeks are tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Stir in the chicken broth, thyme sprigs, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, until the potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove the thyme sprigs. Transfer about 4 cups of the soup to a blender. Remove the top insert from the lid and cover with a kitchen towel. Puree until smooth, 30 seconds. Add to Dutch oven with the remaining chunky soup. Stir in the cream and cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until the soup is slightly thickened, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Season the soup with more salt and pepper. Garnish with celery leaves, hot sauce, prepared fried onions and another drizzle of heavy cream, if you like.

BROCCOLI SOUP WITH LEEKS AND THYME

Steps:

• Melt butter in large pot over medium-high heat. Add leeks and 4 teaspoons thyme; sauté until leeks are almost soft, reducing heat if needed to prevent rapid browning, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer 1/2 cup leeks to small bowl; reserve. Add broccoli and 4 cups broth to pot; bring to boil. Cover; boil until vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Puree soup in blender until smooth. thin soup with more broth, if desired. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls; sprinkle with 2 teaspoons chopped thyme and reserved leeks.