Leek and Potato Soup

Leek and potato soup is one of my all time favorites and a standard in many British restaurants and cafes. It’s not as popular in the US, but hopefully I’m helping that to change.

I bet many of you reading this in the US have never touched a leek. Am I right?

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Don’t be afraid of leeks

A few years ago, when I was homeschooling, I used to have cooking lessons for my daughter and three other 10 year old girls, once a week. One of the first things I taught these young ladies to make was Leek and Potato Soup. While it was “old hat” for my daughter, two of the girls seemed anxious to dive in and try anything, but the fourth little girl appeared to be extremely doubtful of this particular vegetable.

How to clean leeks

I showed them how to clean and cut the leeks~

• Cut off the dark green leaves at the top, and about 1/4″ off the bottom.
• Starting at the top, cut into the leek, halfway through and make the cut all the way down to the bottom of the leek, lengthwise, to open all the layers, so the dirt can be washed out properly.

• Wash thoroughly, and cut into pieces or slices, as needed.

Making leek-lovers!

Then I showed them how to make the soup. Everything was fine, until it came time to taste it for salt. The hesitant student was the last to taste the soup. I could bet anything that if this had been taking place in her own home, she probably would have refused to try it. Most kids are much more daring in someone else’s home, right?

I still remember the look on her face when she tasted the soup for the first time–her eyes grew large, she smiled and exclaimed “It’s good!” as if she was completely flabbergasted by the flavor.

Turkey Schnitzel with Leeks and Butter Sage Sauce

I loved how it felt, seeing this child introduced to something new and healthy, which would hopefully open more doors for her, possibly trying other things she may not have tried in future. She and the rest of the girls had a bowl of soup that afternoon, and went home with the ability to make Leek and Potato Soup on their own. The girls also made the soup for their respective families later on, and they all loved it.

Most people who taste Leek and Potato soup for the first time, don’t just like it, they love it. Leeks have a very mild flavor, so they’re not something to which one needs to acquire a taste.

I have been making this soup for many years, and passed it on to lots of friends who ask for the recipe after tasting it. As most of my recipes are, this soup is very simple to make. Despite the fact that you’ve never cooked a leek before, be brave and do something different for a change, and give them a try.

NOTE: when buying leeks, look for leeks with more white than green, as the dark green will be cut off. They should be firm and fresh looking; if they look old and soft, make another kind of soup!  Remember–quality ingredients make everything taste better!

Leek and Potato Soup

• 1 or 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 or 3 leeks (about 12 oz) cleaned and chopped
• 1 medium sized onion, chopped (doesn’t need to be perfect as everything will be blended)
• 6 cups (1.5 L) chicken broth or water with Better Than Bouillon (2 tsp)
• 2 large or 2 medium sized potatoes, peeled and diced
• salt and pepper
• optional: milk, cream or half and half

*vegetarian version: use vegetable stock instead of chicken broth

*vegan version: make as vegetarian; only use olive oil and do not add any dairy

Put the butter and oil in a large soup pot, over medium heat, then add the leeks and onion. Saute for about 5 to 6 minutes, stirring often. You can cover the pot in between stirring.

Add the chicken broth to the leeks and onion and bring to a simmer.

Next, add the chopped potatoes and continue to simmer, stirring occastionally until potatoes are soft. Add some salt to taste.

Once the potatoes are cooked, remove from heat and blend with an immersion blender, or place in a traditional blender to puree until smooth.

At this point, the soup is ready to eat, however, unless you or someone in your family is lactose intolerant, I would advise adding one of the following, more or less, to your liking:

• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1/4 cup of heavy cream
• 1/3 cup half and half

It makes the soup more creamy and delicious.

After adding the milk and/or cream, taste for salt, and add pepper if desired.

You can also just add a little milk and or cream into individual bowls for individual preferences, too.

Oh, and this is a photo I found on my camera when I came home from the East Coast earlier last week…apparently, my daughter still remembers how to make Leek and Potato Soup!

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Leek and Potato Soup

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Super tasty soup everyone will love. Can be made vegetarian or vegan and is naturally gluten free.

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Ingredients

• 1 or 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 or 3 leeks (about 12 oz) cleaned and chopped
• 1 medium sized onion, chopped (doesn't need to be perfect as everything will be blended)
• 6 cups (1.5 L) chicken broth or water with Better Than Bouillon (2 tsp)
• 2 large or 2 medium sized potatoes, peeled and diced
• salt and pepper
• optional: milk, cream or half and half

Instructions

1. Put the butter and oil in a large soup pot, over medium heat, then add the leeks and onion. Saute for about 5 to 6 minutes, stirring often. You can cover the pot in between stirring.
2. Add the chicken broth to the leeks and onion and bring to a simmer.
3. Next, add the chopped potatoes and continue to simmer, stirring occastionally until potatoes are soft. Add some salt to taste.
4. Once the potatoes are cooked, remove from heat and blend with an immersion blender, or place in a traditional blender to puree until smooth.
5. At this point, the soup is ready to eat, however, unless you or someone in your family is lactose intolerant, I would advise adding one of the following, more or less, to your liking:

• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1/4 cup of heavy cream
• 1/3 cup half and half

It makes the soup more creamy and delicious. After adding the milk and/or cream, taste for salt, and add pepper if desired.

You can also just add a little milk and or cream into individual bowls for individual preferences, too.

Notes

*vegetarian version: use vegetable stock instead of chicken broth

*vegan version: make as vegetarian; only use olive oil and do not add any dairy

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 262Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 534mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 2gSugar: 6gProtein: 9g

Nutrition information is only an estimate.

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