Green Potage Recipes

POTAJE DE GARBANZOS (CUBAN GARBANZO BEAN STEW)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, green pepper, Sazón seasoning, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few cracks of freshly ground black pepper. Cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot occasionally, until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly darker in color and thickened, about 1 minute. Add the vino seco to deglaze the pan, scraping any browned bits with a wooden spoon.
• Add the garbanzo beans, potatoes, chorizo and 5 cups of water. Turn the heat up to high and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, then cover the pot and simmer until the potatoes are tender and the chickpeas are very soft, about 20 minutes. Once the potatoes have softened, use the back of a wooden spoon to crush some of them against the side of the pot to thicken the stew. Serve the stew over hot rice, if desired.

GREEN POTAGE

Steps:

• Place the butter in an oval dish measuring 13 by 9 by 2 inches. Cook, uncovered, in a 650- to 700-watt microwave oven at 100 percent power for 1 minute. Add the onions and stir to coat. Cook, uncovered, at 100 percent power for 3 minutes.
• Add the potatoes around the inside edge of the dish. Pour 1/2 cup of the broth over the potatoes. Cover tightly with microwave plastic wrap. Cook at 100 percent power for 4 minutes. Prick the plastic to release steam.
• Remove from the oven and uncover. Place the broccoli in a ring inside the potatoes and spread the spinach over all. Cover tightly with microwave plastic wrap and cook at 100 percent power for 10 minutes. Prick the plastic to release steam.
• Remove from the oven and uncover. Pass the mixture through the medium blade of a food mill into a large saucepan, gradually adding the remaining broth. Stir in salt and pepper and place over moderate heat until hot.

POTAGE DAME EDMEE (FRESH GREEN PEA AND CHICKEN SOUP)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan put 4 cups of fresh peas, 6 tablespoons of butter, 1 finely minced onion, a tender head of garden lettuce cut into julienne strips, about 15 leaves of fresh spinach, 4 sprigs parsley, a few sprigs of chervil if you have it, 2 teaspoons of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 3/4 cups water. Cover the saucepan, bring the soup to a boil, and cook it over a moderate fire until the peas are tender. Meanwhile, boil 1 cup of fresh peas, in a separate pan, to add to the soup later.
• Pass the soup through a strainer, or a vegetable mill, pressing the vegetables through with the liquid. Return the soup to the saucepan, add 3 cups of chicken stock, stir well, and simmer over a low fire for about 15 minutes. Then add the extra cup of peas, drained, and 1/4 cup cooked white meat of chicken, cut into very fine julienne strips.
• Mix 3 egg yolks with 1 1/2 cups of light cream and add this gradually to the soup, stirring constantly. Continue cooking until the soup thickens to a creamy consistency, but do not let it boil.

GREEN POTAGE

Steps:

• Cook scallions in butter for about ((5)) minutes over moderate heat, stirring frequently. Add potatoes, salt, and chicken broth. Bring to boil and cook, covered, for 10 minutes. Add the water cress in coarse pieces, spinach leaves, and torn up lettuce. Continue cooking until potatoes are tender, about 5 minutes longer. Strain off about 1 cup of broth. Place vegetables and remaining broth in blender. Cover container and turn on blender. Blend until smooth, add remaining broth and reheat. Served garnished with chopped chives, or sour cream sprinkled with paprika.

POTAGE SAINT-GERMAIN (CREAMY GREEN PEA SOUP)

Steps:

• NOTE: if using frozen peas, thaw first.
• In a heavy soup pot, melt the butter but do not burn. Add the shallots and cook for about 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add 2 cups stock or water and the green peas, season with salt and pepper.
• Cover and simmer the soup for approximately 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• When the peas are tender, transfer the soup to a large bowl and using a hand held immersion blender process the soup until very smooth.
• Strain the soup back into the soup pot, stir in the heavy cream (if using), and heat through WITHOUT boiling.
• Season with salt and pepper and serve hot with homemade croutons and fresh chervil garnished on top.

ROASTED POTATOES WITH GREENS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place the potatoes in a single layer in a ceramic casserole dish. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, and cook until golden. Stir in the rosemary, and cook just until fragrant. Pour over the potatoes in the dish. Season with sea salt and pepper.
• Roast uncovered for about 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until the potatoes are fork tender. Remove from the oven, and toss with the spinach leaves. Return to the oven for 1 to 2 minutes, until the spinach has wilted.

POTAGE SAINT-GERMAIN

Steps:

• Make the croutons:
• In a bowl drizzle the bread cubes with the butter, tossing them to coat them well, and in a shallow baking dish bake them in a preheated 350°F. oven, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, or until the croutons are golden and crisp. Season the croutons with salt. The croutons may be made 1 day in advance and kept in an airtight container.
• Make the soup:
• In a large saucepan cook the leeks in the butter over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until they are softened, add the broth and 2 cups water, and bring the mixture to a boil. Add the peas and the lettuce and simmer the mixture, covered partially, for 10 minutes, or until the peas are tender. Stir in the mint and in a blender or food processor purée the soup in batches. The soup may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled. Return the soup to the pan, season it with salt and pepper, and reheat it over moderately low heat, stirring, until it is hot.
• In a small bowl beat the cream until it is thickened slightly but still pourable and season it with salt. Ladle the soup into bowls, drizzle drops of the cream on each serving, and draw a skewer or knife through the drops, forming decorative patterns. Serve the soup with the croutons.