Potato And Leek PurÉe Five Star Restaurant Style 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.

POTATO AND LEEK PURéE

Steps:

• 1. In a large pot with water just to cover, boil the potatoes and leeks forabout 30 minutes, until the potatoes are tender and easily pierced with the tip of a knife. Drain, reserving the water, and remove the potatoes. Pass them through a ricer. Set aside.
• 2. Transfer the leeks to a food processor fitted with a steel blade and purée.
• 3. Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the riced potatoes. Gradually stir in the milk, beating with a wooden spoon until creamy. Stir in the puréed leeks. Stir in some of the reserved potato water for a more liquid consistency.
• 4. Serve immediately. Freeze leftover purée that won't be eaten the next day.

PUREE DE POIREAUX (LEEKS PUREE)

Steps:

• Trim off the stem end of each leek. Cut off enough of the green part to leave a main section of about seven inches. Split the leeks lengthwise in half. Cut the split leeks crosswise into one-and-one half-inch lengths. There should be about eight cups loosely packed. Rinse thoroughly in cold water. Drain.
• Put the leeks in a saucepan or kettle and add enough water to cover. Bring to the boil and simmer, uncovered, about 15 minutes or until tender. Drain thoroughly.
• Put the leeks into the container of a food processor or blender and puree until fine. Scrape the mixture into a saucepan and start beating. Add the salt and pepper to taste, butter and nutmeg. Stir until piping hot. Serve.

CREAMY CELERY AND POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a low heat. Add the celery, potatoes and leeks and cook gently for 5 minutes.
• Pour the stock into the pan and add the bay leaf. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until all the vegetables are tender. Remove the bay leaf.
• Cool slightly. Using a draining spoon, lift out the vegetables and put them into a blender or food processor with some of the liquid. Whizz to a purée.
• Return the purée to the pan with the rest of the liquid, add the milk and heat gently. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Ladle the soup into warm bowls and grind a little more pepper over the top. Scatter over the chopped celery leaves to garnish.