leek & potato soup

2018-04-14 a.o.

When prepared with all the optional ingredients, this is known as Potage Parmentier, an essential base soup in French cuisine. Add watercress for Watercress Soup. Serve it chilled for Vichyssoise. Or top it with bacon, fried leeks, fresh herbs, diced vegetables, etc.. Endless variations are possible.

I often prepare it very simple with only leeks and potatoes. When I prepare it with milk, the broth is milky-white opaque instead of clear.

INGREDIENTS

This is what you need for 6-8 servings:

4 ft. leek whites, washed, chopped
2 lbs. yellow potatoes, peeled and diced
S&P
optional:
- 3 tbsp. unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 3 pints chicken stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 sprig fresh thyme
- 2 carrots
- chives, finely chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
  or milk and 1 stick butter

Pic1: simply leek & potatoes

Directions

2019-12-15

Pic2: I use the white part only, plant the bottom part for regrowing
Pic3: cut and wash
Pic4: add water, cook

Pic5: all done - serve and enjoy
Pic6: partially blended
Pic7: leftovers for the freezer

Heat the butter.
Sauté the garlic and leek for 10 minutes over medium heat while stirring frequently.
Add the potatoes, bay leaves, thyme, S&P to the pot.
Add enough water / stock to cover it all and bring to a boil.
Cover and simmer over low heat for 10-12 minutes until the potatoes are very soft.
Remove the thyme sprig and bay leaves.

For the unblended version (Pic1+5)

Stop here and serve.
I usually leave it like this. I like to have some texture from the leaves.

For the creamed version:

Puree the soup with a stick blender until smooth.

frozen soup reheated

2020-03-07

Pic8-10: reheating frozen soup

like onion soup

2020-03-11

Pic11-13: with bread & cheese, like onion soup

with cream

2018-04-14

Pic8+9: prepared with milk or heavy cream

optional:
- Stir in milk or heavy cream.
  Alternatively, add 1 tbsp. heavy cream to each bowl.
Bring to a near-simmer.
Do not boil after adding cream.
Adjust S&P to taste.

Serving suggestions:

Garnish with fresh herbs or bacon bits.

Elephant Garlic & Potato Soup

2016-05-07

Elephant garlic is a bulbing leek variety. You can grow it in your flower garden.

“THEY” say that you can use elephant garlic like a spring leek. Well, you can tell "THEM" that it isn’t that simple. Apparently, desert-grown elephant garlic reeks.

I harvested some from the garden. I stored them for a few days in the refrigerator. The entire house literally reeked of them. I had to boil them for more than 4 hours, and then overnight the soup before the smell subsided to a more tolerable level.

I did tame the dragon in the end, but never again. Elephant garlic needs a lot more watering than I gave it if you want it to be tolerable for kitchen use.

2016-05-07

Pic1: blooming elephant garlic
Pic14: clean
Pic15: load the pot

Pic16: simmer a long time to reduce pungency
Pic17: add milk & butter
Pic18: done

Leek & potato soup on the internet

Pic10: unblended leek & potato soup
Pic11: creamed leek & potato soup

frozen soup reheated

like onion soup

with cream

Leek & potato soup on the internet

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more and avemariasongs.org

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more
and avemariasongs.org