Cheese Soup From Alton Brown Recipes

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.

CHEESE SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Use room temperature butter to grease an 8-inch souffle mold. Add the grated Parmesan and roll around the mold to cover the sides. Cover with plastic wrap and place into the freezer for 5 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a small saucepan, heat the butter. Allow all of the water to cook out.
• In a separate bowl combine the flour, dry mustard, garlic powder, and kosher salt. Whisk this mixture into the melted butter. Cook for 2 minutes.
• Whisk in the hot milk and turn the heat to high. Once the mixture reaches a boil, remove from the heat.
• In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks to a creamy consistency. Temper the yolks into the milk mixture, constantly whisking. Remove from the heat and add the cheese. Whisk until incorporated.
• In a separate bowl, using a hand mixer, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar until glossy and firm. Add 1/4 of the mixture to the base. Continue to add the whites by thirds, folding very gently.
• Pour the mixture into the souffle. Fill the souffle to 1/2-inch from the top. Place on an aluminum pie pan. Bake in the oven for 35 minutes.

CHEESE SOUP FROM ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• Melt butter in large, heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, and salt. Sweat for 5-10 minutes, or until veggies begin to soften, stirring occasionally. Sift the flour over the veggies and cook, strring constantly, for 2-3 minutes.
• Gradually add chicken broth and bring to boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and add garlic and bay leaf. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until veggies are soft.
• Remove bay leaf. Turn off heat, add heavy cream and then puree with an immersion blender or in a conventional blender (if using blender or food porcessor, cool 5 minutes then transfer liquid to blender or processor and fill no more than 1/2 way. If using blender, release one corner of lid to prevent vacuum effect from heat expansion resulting in heat explosion. Place a towel over top of processor feeding and pulse a few times beofre process on high speed until smooth).
• Gradually add the cheese, 1 small handful at a time, and stir until melted before adding next handful. Stir in Marsala, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and white pepper. Taste and add additional salt if desires. If soup is not hot enough, return to low heat until warmed through.
• If not serving right away, store in a thermos to keep warm and avoid graininess. If refrigerating and reheating, use double boiler to reheat.

ALTON BROWN'S WINTER VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Place 2 tablespoons of the olive oil into an 8-quart stockpot over high heat until the oil shimmers. Add the mushrooms and saute until browned, about 5 minutes. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and set aside.
• Decrease the heat to low, add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and the carrots, celery, onions and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 30 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, sage, rosemary and garlic, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring to break up the tomatoes. Add the water, soy sauce and Parmesan rind, increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, about 15 minutes. Decrease the heat to low, add the squash and kale, cover and cook until tender, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Return the mushrooms to the pot along with the beans and red wine vinegar and cook until all is heated through, about 15 minutes. Remove the cheese rind and serve warm with shaved Parmesan.