Alton Browns Winter Vegetable Soup Recipes

GARDEN VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in large, heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium-low heat. Once hot, add the leeks, garlic, and a pinch of salt and sweat until they begin to soften, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Add the carrots, potatoes, and green beans and continue to cook for 4 to 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the stock, increase the heat to high, and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, add the tomatoes, corn kernels, and pepper. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the vegetables are fork tender, approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat and add the parsley and lemon juice. Season, to taste, with kosher salt. Serve immediately.

WINTER VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine the broth with the potatoes, tomatoes, beans and onions, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to medium. Cook the soup until the potatoes are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the corn and serve. Adjust seasoning as needed.

ONE CHICKEN, SIXTY-MINUTE SOUP

Steps:

• Remove the legs and wings from the chicken and set aside. Cut the meat off the breast bone, reserving the carcass. Remove the skin from the breasts and legs and spread the skin, fat-side down, on paper towels or paper plates to dry. Reserve for Gimme Some Skin (see separate recipe).
• Halve a large onion, leaving the skin on, and place it cut side down in a 6- to 6 1/2-quart stovetop pressure cooker. Sear it over high heat, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat.
• Add the 2 halved carrots, 2 halved celery stalks, leek tops and dried mushrooms to the pot. Then add the chicken carcass, legs, thighs and wings with the peppercorns and bay leaves. Add the water and use tongs or a wooden spoon to push as much of the chicken under water as possible.
• Attach the pressure cooker's lid and heat on high. When full pressure is reached, about 5 to 10 minutes, lower the heat to medium-low. (You shouldn't hear the whistle, only a soft hiss). Cook 30 minutes.
• Remove the pressure cooker from the heat and release the pressure by placing the cooker in the sink and dousing with cold water for one minute. Then release the pressure lock and remove lid.
• Strain the solids first through a colander, then a fine sieve or cheesecloth.
• Return the stock back to the pot. Add the shoyu, togarashi, lemon juice and chicken breasts to the pot and bring to a boil (without the lid), then reduce the heat to low. Simmer 5 minutes.
• After 5 minutes, check the breasts for doneness (I usually pull them at 150 degrees F) and remove to a large bowl. Add the remaining diced carrots and parsnips to the broth and simmer 3 minutes more. Then add the remaining diced celery and leeks. Kill the heat and allow to sit for 3 minutes, then taste the broth and correct with salt and/or lemon juice to taste.
• Since they're so hot, shred the chicken breasts by either pulling apart with two large forks or hit them with a hand mixer on low...that'll do the trick, too.
• To serve, ladle soup in the bowls, top with some of the breast meat, garnish with the celery leaves and serve with chicken skin "sandwiches." (See separate recipe for Gimme Some Skin.)
• Like any soup...this one is better the next day. Oh, and discard the solids from the pressure cooker...they've given their all.

LEEK POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Chop the leeks into small pieces.
• In a 6-quart saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the leeks and a heavy pinch of salt and sweat for 5 minutes. Decrease the heat to medium-low and cook until the leeks are tender, approximately 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the potatoes and the vegetable broth, increase the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and gently simmer until the potatoes are soft, approximately 45 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and puree the mixture with an immersion blender until smooth. Stir in the heavy cream, buttermilk, and white pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Sprinkle with chives and serve immediately, or chill and serve cold.

SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the quartered squash onto a half sheet pan, brush the flesh of the squash with a little butter and season with 1 tablespoon of the salt and 1 teaspoon of the white pepper. Place in the oven and roast for 30 to 35 minutes or until the flesh is soft and tender.
• Scoop the flesh from the skin into a 6-quart pot. Add the broth, honey and ginger. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Using a stick blender, puree the mixture until smooth*. Stir in the heavy cream and return to a low simmer. Season with the remaining salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
• *When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

CHRISTMAS SOUP

Steps:

• Place the kielbasa into a 7-quart Dutch oven and set over medium-low heat. Cook until the kielbasa has browned well and rendered its fat, approximately 15 minutes. If you do not have at least 2 teaspoons of fat, add enough vegetable oil to make 2 teaspoons. Remove the kielbasa from the pan and set aside.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent the garlic from burning. Add the beans and the chicken broth and cook, covered, for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, add the potatoes, cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Wash, rinse and trim the kale and tear into bite size pieces. Add the kale to the pot, cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes or just until it is tender, but not mushy.
• Add the red wine vinegar and black pepper and stir to combine. Evenly distribute the kielbasa between 8 soup bowls. Laddle the soup into bowls and serve.