Dilled Potato Leek Chowder Recipes

POTATO LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter over medium heat in a large soup pot. Add the leeks and garlic and cook, stirring regularly, until soft and wilted, about 10 minutes. Adjust the heat as necessary so as not to brown.
• Add the potatoes, broth, bay leaves, thyme, salt and pepper to pot and bring to a boil. Cover and turn the heat down to low. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are very soft.
• Fish out the thyme sprig and bay leaves, then purée the soup with a hand-held immersion blender until smooth. (Alternatively, use a standard blender to purée the soup in batches; see note.) Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. If soup is too thin, simmer until thickened. If it's too thick, add water or stock to thin it out. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
• Note: If using a standard blender to purée the soup: be sure not to fill the jar more than halfway; leave the hole in the lid open and cover loosely with a dishtowel to allow the heat to escape; and pour blended soup into a clean pot.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The soup can be frozen, without the cream, for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator for 12 hours and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until hot. Once heated through, add the cream and bring to a simmer before serving.

LEEK AND POTATO CHOWDER

Steps:

• Clean leeks by cutting off the roots and the tips of the leaves. Make a vertical cut from the root end to the tops, being careful to not cut through completely. The leeks will now open like the pages of a book, and any mud can be cleaned out between the leaves under the faucet. Slice the cleaned leeks into quarter-inch strips.
• Melt half the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute leeks in hot butter until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes; transfer to a slow cooker.
• Melt remaining butter in the same skillet over low heat. Gradually whisk flour into the melted butter until the mixture forms a clump of dough. Slowly stream chicken broth into the skillet, continually whisking until the broth is entirely incorporated; pour over the mixture in the slow cooker. Add bacon and potatoes to the slow cooker. Season mixture with salt and pepper; stir.
• Cook on Low until the potatoes are soft, stirring water into the mixture if it gets too thick, at least 2 hours. Stir half-and-half into the mixture and continue cooking for 1 hour more.

POTATO-LEEK SOUP WITH CHEESE

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add leek and garlic; sauté until tender but not brown, about 4 minutes. Add potatoes and carrots; sauté 5 minutes longer. Add chicken broth and dill; simmer uncovered until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Add milk to soup. Transfer half of soup to blender. Add cream cheese and blend until smooth. Return soup to pot. Add 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese and stir over low heat until melted. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill. Bring to simmer before serving.) Transfer to large serving bowl. Garnish soup with chopped fresh parsley and additional grated sharp cheddar cheese, if desired.

CORN LEEK CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute the leeks, onion and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in the broth, potatoes and dill; cook for 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. , Stir in corn and pepper; cook 2 minutes longer. Combine the cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened., Stir in cream. Cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Garnish each serving with 1 tablespoon of cheese.