Potato Leek Soup With Mini Pierogi Recipe 455

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.

POTATO-LEEK SOUP WITH MINI PIEROGI RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add leeks and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add potatoes, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until well coated, about 2 minutes. Add water, chicken broth and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are very tender, 15 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Working in 2 or 3 batches, purée the soup in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a clean pot and stir in the cream; season with salt and pepper. Keep warm over low heat. Meanwhile, cook bacon in a nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring, until crisp, about 7 minutes. Transfer to paper towels using a slotted spoon. Add the pierogi to the skillet and cook, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and warmed through, about 5 minutes. Top each serving of soup with pierogi, bacon and chives.

POTATO-LEEK SOUP WITH BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Make the croutons: Melt 1 tablespoon butter, then mix with the paprika in a bowl. Add the bread cubes and toss. Spread on a baking sheet and bake until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Discard all but about 1 tablespoon fat from the pan. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, then add the leeks and garlic; cover and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the broth, 2 cups water, the potatoes and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper; cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, partially covered, until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Puree half the soup in a blender (remove the filler cap to let steam escape), then return to the pot. Add the cream and bring to a simmer. Add the peas and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with the croutons, bacon and parsley.

POTATO-LEEK SOUP WITH MINI PIEROGI

Steps:

• 12 frozen mini pierogi (half of a 1-pound package) Chopped fresh chives, for topping
• Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leeks and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the potatoes, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until well coated, about 2 minutes.
• Add 3 cups water, the chicken broth and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are very tender, 15 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Working in 2 or 3 batches, puree the soup in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a clean pot and stir in the cream; season with salt and pepper. Keep warm over low heat.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring, until crisp, about 7 minutes. Transfer to paper towels using a slotted spoon. Add the pierogi to the skillet and cook, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and warmed through, about 5 minutes. Top each serving of soup with pierogi, bacon and chives.

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.