Potato Leek Soup
Published Oct. 9, 2024
- Total Time
- 45 minutes
- Prep Time
- 15 minutes
- Cook Time
- 30 minutes
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
- 2tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2medium leeks, light green and white parts only, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 3 cups)
- Salt and pepper
- 1garlic clove, thinly sliced
- 4cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1½pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes (about 4 cups)
- 1fresh or dried bay leaf
- 1cup heavy cream
- Chopped chives, for garnishing
- Crusty bread, for serving
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)
492 calories; 30 grams fat; 18 grams saturated fat; 1 gram trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 53 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 7 grams sugars; 13 grams protein; 1351 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation
- Step 1
In a large pot, melt butter over medium. Add leeks, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and stir until fragrant, 1 minute.
- Step 2
Add broth, potatoes and bay leaf; season with salt, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, adjust heat to medium-low and cook at a gentle simmer until potatoes are completely tender, 15 minutes. Discard bay leaf.
- Step 3
Working in two batches, if necessary, transfer soup to a blender and purée just until smooth. (Resist the urge to overprocess in the blender, which can result in gummy soup.) Return soup to the pot or, for an extra-silky soup, strain through a fine-mesh sieve into the pot.
- Step 4
Stir in cream and warm over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, for about 2 minutes. Season with salt.
- Step 5
Divide soup among bowls and garnish with chives. Serve warm, with crusty bread.
Private Notes
Comments
Eliminate the cream (less healthy), add parsnips, celery and carrots. We leave skins on the potatoes but peel the parsnips to avoid a sour taste. (Adapted from an old Molly Katzen recipe). An immersion blender has made preparation and cleanup far easier. You can make a lot and freeze it for quick meals later.
This is what we call Crème Vichyssoise in France. Best frying home-made chicken stock and crème fraiche with a pinch of nutmeg at the end and served with chopped chives sprinkled into the tureen.
Leeks never give me quite as much onion flavor as I like so I always add a sweet onion to the leeks for vichyssoise or cockaleekie or any soup with potatoes and leeks.
I had some leftover smashed potatoes and uncooked baby potatoes, and this recipe showed up in my feed. I picked up some leeks and cream, and made a pot of delicious soup! I did not peel the potatoes, so the soup had some flecks of color - the flavor was still amazing (and I prefer foods that are not monochromatic…). When I told my wife I was making Potato Leek Soup, she said, “Leeks?! Is it going to be good?” After she finished her bowl, she asked, “Is there more?” ‘Nuf said. This one is another NYT keeper.
This is delicious. I added finely chopped onion, celery, and carrot upped the garlic and finished with nutmeg. I liked the idea of baking a potato separately for texture and so I did that. I also, added some crumbled bacon on top just for fun. So good, flavorful, and easy.
I had leeks wilting in the fridge, potatoes close to meh, 2/3 cup heavy cream that needed used. This was such an easy, non ingredient heavy way to use up this I had on hand. Used some milk to top off the heavy cream. Also used a ninja bullet to blend cause I’m lazy and that is less to clean. A+ from me 🤷♀️