Fennel Leek And Spinach Soup Recipes

LEEK AND FENNEL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan or soup kettle over medium-low heat, place the olive oil, leeks, celery, onions, fennel, potatoes, salt, and pepper, and cook and stir until the onions are translucent and the vegetables have begun to soften, about 10 minutes.
• Pour 8 cups of water over the vegetables, bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and drop in the vegetable bouillon cubes. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the cubes, until the vegetables are tender and the potatoes have begun to thicken the soup, about 30 minutes.

SPINACH-AND-FENNEL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pot over medium heat. Toss in the spinach, stir a few times, cover and steam for 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Heat tablespoon of oil in a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the fennel and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cup of broth, lower heat and cook until fennel is tender, about 10 minutes.
• Coarsely puree the spinach, fennel mixture and roasted garlic in a food processor. Scrape into a large saucepan and stir in the remaining broth, the milk and i cup of yogurt. Place over medium heat until hot. Stir in the lemon juice, salt and pepper. Divide among 4 bowls and top with a teaspoon of yogurt. Serve immediately.

FENNEL, LEEK AND SPINACH SOUP

Steps:

• Melt margarine in large pot over medium heat. Add fennel and leeks. Sauté until just translucent, about 15 minutes. Add broth to cover pot. Simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Puree soup in small batches in blender until smooth, adding spinach to last batch before pureeing. Return soup to same pot.Season with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Refrigerate until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated.)
• Rewarm soup over low heat, stirring occasionally. Ladle into bowls and serve.

CREAMY FENNEL AND LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a large, deep (preferably non-stick) sauté pan, over a medium heat, add the sliced fennel (NOT the strips of fennel), sliced leek and finely chopped garlic, and sauté, while stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes or until the fennel, leeks and garlic are beginning to soften.
• Remove from the heat, and set aside.
• In a large pot, heat the stock, add the rosemary sprigs, thyme and nutmeg and bring to the boil.
• Simmer over a low heat for about 15 minutes.
• Remove the rosemary sprigs.
• Add the fennel, leek and garlic mixture to the pot, and stir to combine all the ingredients.
• Set the pan in which the fennel, leek and garlic were sautéed aside, for re-use later.
• Allow the soup to cool slightly (10 minutes cooling time should be ample), then blend it in batches in a blender or food processor until smooth.
• As each batch is blended, pour the blended soup into another pot or pan, perhaps the deep pan used earlier to sauté the fennel, leeks and garlic.
• Once all of the soup has been blended, stir it to ensure that it is of an even consistency (inevitably some batches were probably thinner than others).
• Stir the sour cream and the 1/4 cup of parmesan into the soup.
• Reheat the soup over a medium heat until it is hot, but do not allow it to come to the boil.
• Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Turn off the heat and leave the soup covered so that it stays warm.
• In a small non-stick pan, heat the oil, and sauté the extra leek for 2-3 minutes, or until softened but not browned.
• Ladle the soup into warm soup bowls and top with the sautéed leek.
• Garnish with the extra parmesan and sour cream, and serve immediately with warm crusty rolls.
• Chef's Note: Since posting this recipe, and since last making this soup, I have found and posted a fabulous recipe for vegetable, quite unlike others I have used in the past: Vegetable Stock Recipe #135453.

POACHED SALMON, LEEK, AND FENNEL SOUP

Steps:

• Slice leeks crosswise into 1/4-inch coins. Place in bowl of cold water; move leeks with fingers so sand falls to bottom. Lift leeks from water with fingers or slotted spoon, and drain; set aside.
• Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks, carrots, fennel, and celery. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add parsley, thyme, stock, salt, pepper, and 5 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Cook 30 minutes. Turn off heat; add salmon and spinach. Poach until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Garnish with fennel fronds; serve.

POTATO, LEEK, AND SPINACH SOUP

Steps:

• Put leeks in a bowl with enough water to cover completely. Soak until you're ready to cook them.
• Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Fry bacon in hot pot until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towel to drain. Remove all but 2 tablespoons bacon drippings from the pot.
• Drain leeks and shake vigorously to dry. Fry leeks and garlic in the reserved bacon drippings until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir potatoes with the leeks; add bay leaves. Pour the carton of chicken stock over the potatoes; bring to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Season soup with salt and pepper.
• Scoop about half the potatoes, leeks, and garlic into a food processor bowl with enough liquid to cover; process until pureed. Stir puree, bacon, spinach, and half-and-half into the soup; continue heating until again hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Add chicken broth from the can or half-and-half to achieve your desired consistency.