Cold Potato Leek Soup Recipes

POTATO LEEK SOUP (VICHYSSOISE)

Steps:

• Melt butter in soup pot over medium-high heat. Add leeks and salt; cook until leeks begin to wilt. Reduce heat to medium or medium-low and cook until soft and almost pastelike, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Place potatoes in the pot; add chicken broth. Adjust heat so mixture simmers slowly. Cook until potatoes are soft, about 30 minutes. Puree mixture with an immersion blender or in batches in a blender. Whisk in heavy cream and creme fraiche. Heat over medium heat. Add more salt, if needed, and cayenne pepper. Do not boil.
• Serve with a drizzle of creme fraiche and a sprinkle of chopped chives.

COLD POTATO-LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine leeks, broth, potato, 2 cups water, and 1 teaspoon coarse salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until vegetables are very tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Working in batches, puree soup in blender, transferring it to a clean bowl as you work. (To prevent splattering, fill blender only halfway, and allow heat to escape: Remove cap from hole in lid, and cover lid firmly with a dish towel.) Stir cream into pureed soup, and season with salt.
• Cover loosely with plastic wrap, and chill until cold, at least 2 hours and up to 2 days. If necessary, thin with water, and season with salt. Serve soup in chilled glasses, garnished with chives.

VICHYSSOISE: CHILLED POTATO AND LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large pot over medium-low heat add the butter.
• When melted, add the leeks and gently sweat (you don't want them to brown) until they are soft (about 5 minutes).
• Add the potatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer.
• Simmer until potatoes are soft and easily pierced with a fork (about 20 minutes). Remove from heat and allow to cool for a couple of minutes.
• Add the mixture to a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Do this in small batches (no more than half full) as the hot soup creates pressure and can spray out.
• Return the soup to the pot and whisk in the cream. Stirring all the time, bring the soup to a boil and immediately turn down to a simmer. Simmer for about 5 minutes and remove from heat. If the soup is too thick, add a little water or broth.
• Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper.
• Cool quickly to room temperature, cover with plastic, then refrigerate until chilled (preferably overnight).
• Just before serving, sprinkle chives over the top.

HOT OR COLD LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Trim the leek to remove the root and any damaged outer leaves, but leave the remainder of the leaves intact. Split the leek in half lengthwise, and cut it into 1/4-inch pieces. Clean the leek by immersing the pieces in a bowl filled with cold water. Lift the pieces from the water and place them in a sieve.
• Heat the oil in a pot. When hot, add the leek and onion, and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until they soften and begin to brown lightly. Add the stock, potatoes, salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. Boil for about 30 to 40 minutes, until tender.
• Strain off most of the juices and reserve them. Add the solids with a little of the juice to the bowl of a food processor and process briefly, just until pureed. (If too much juice is added to the processor bowl, the mixture will become too foamy.) Mix the puree with the reserved juices. You should have about 7 cups. The hot soup can be served immediately, with croutons if desired.
• For cold leek soup, cool the soup and stir in the milk, chives and Tabasco sauce. Serve cold.

CREAMY COLD POTATO SOUP (VICHYSSOISE)

Steps:

• Heat butter in dutch oven or heavy deep pan.
• Saute the leeks and onion-cook gently, stirring frequently until golden.
• Add broth and potatoes.
• Boil gently, uncovered for 30-45 minutes.
• Let cool and run through a processor until smooth.
• You may need to do this in two batches.
• Put mixture in large bowl and refrigerate.
• Chill for about 20 minutes.
• When cold stir in cream, chives salt and pepper.
• If too thick add some milk.
• Consistency should be somewhat thinner than pan cake batter.
• Serve cold.

CHILLED POTATO AND LEEK SOUP - VICHYSSOISE

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, over medium-high heat, combine the leeks, green onions and 1/2 cup of the chicken stock.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and cook until the vegetables have wilted and begin to soften, approximately 8 minutes.
• Add the diced potatoes and remaining 2 1/2 cups chicken stock, replace the cover and cook until vegetables are very soft, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove from heat, uncover and allow the soup to stand for 15 minutes to cool slightly; stir in the butter.
• Very carefully transfer the hot vegetable mixture to blender container, puree until very smooth and in several batches if needed.
• Season with salt and pepper; allow the soup to cool to room temperature before placing in the refrigerator.
• When cool, cover and place in refrigerate until well chilled, 3 to 4 hours or serve at room temperature; adjusting seasoning if needed.
• To serve, divide into individual serving bowls and garnish with some of the reserved green onion tops that have been thinly sliced.