Romanian Lettuce Soup Recipes

LETTUCE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil over medium-low heat in a large saucepan. When hot add the onions and garlic and cook until the onion is translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the parsley, chives, tarragon and lettuce and stir until the lettuce is completely wilted, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. When ready to serve, process the soup, in batches, taking care since the soup is hot, then return to a clean saucepan. Stir in the heavy cream or evaporated milk and the salt and pepper and simmer for another 5 minutes, or until heated through. Adjust seasoning, if necessary, and serve immediately, garnished with fresh herbs and chive blossoms, if desired.

ROMANIAN LETTUCE SOUP

Steps:

• Cook slowly chopped onion and garlic in oil until soft but not brown.
• Wash lettuce, tear leaves in small pieces, add to cooked onions and cook about 10 more minutes.
• Add salt, pepper, water and simmer 15 minutes.
• Add lemon juice and simmer 5 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat yolk in large serving bowl and add cream.
• Pour soup very slowly, drop by drop, over egg mixture stirring vigorously to prevent curdling.
• Do not cook again. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top.

LETTUCE SOUP

Steps:

• Cook onion mixture and garlic in 2 tablespoons butter in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add coriander, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in potato, lettuce, and water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until potato is very tender, about 10 minutes.
• Purée soup in batches in a blender (use caution when blending hot liquids) and transfer to a 2- to 3-quart saucepan. Bring soup to a simmer, then whisk in remaining tablespoon butter and salt and pepper to taste.

CHILLED LETTUCE SOUP

Steps:

• Put butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat; when it melts, add onion and sweat for about 2 minutes or until it begins to soften; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add all but a couple of handfuls of the lettuce to the pan, reserving the rest for garnish, and cook until it wilts. Add stock, turn the heat to medium-high and bring liquid to a boil; lower heat to medium and cook until lettuce is very soft, about 5 minutes.
• Put cooked lettuce in a blender and add 2 cups of ice water. Purée mixture until smooth, then put in a large bowl and refrigerate for at least an hour.
• Once soup is chilled, add cream or half-and-half to taste and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Finely chop reserved lettuce and put about 1/4 cup in each bowl and ladle soup on top. Garnish with croutons or bacon.

CREAMY ROMAINE LETTUCE SOUP

Steps:

• 1. Melt butter in a medium sized sauce pan. Saute onions in butter until tender.
• 2. Add chicken broth to onions and bring to a boil. Stir chopped lettuce into liquid; let cook over low heat for about 10 minutes (or until tender). Remove from heat and let stand until cooled.
• 3. Place lettuce mixture into a blender, half at a time, until all ingredients are completely pureed. Pour, now pureed, lettuce mixture into saucepan over medium heat. ** Do not Boil**
• 4. Add cream and tabasco sauce to taste; salt and pepper may be added for extra flavor. Heat through and serve.

ROMAINE LETTUCE SOUP

Steps:

• In a heavy stockpot, over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Saute the onions with the salt and pepper until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic, tomatillo and jalapeno(s) and cook another 5 minutes. Pour in the chicken stock or water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook 20 minutes. Stir in the lettuce and cook 10 minutes longer. Add the cilantro to the soup and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, and puree in a blender or food processor. If you want a more elegant soup, pass through a strainer. Bring back to a boil before serving. Beat 1 cup of the heavy cream until soft peaks form. In a small bowl, mix the anchovy paste with the remaining 2 tablespoons cream until smooth. Fold into the whipped cream and beat a few more strokes. Serve the soup hot with dollops of the anchovy cream garnish.

ROMAINE LETTUCE SOUP

Steps:

• 1. In a heavy soup pan or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat.
• 2. Saute the onion and potato in the butter until the onion browns slightly and the potato starts to stick. Use a 1/4 cup of the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, loosening any browned potato from the bottom of the pan.
• 3. Add the sliced lettuce, stir, and cover to steam briefly. Stir every minute or so and continue until the lettuce has thoroughly wilted.
• 4. Add the chicken broth and simmer for about 5 minutes.
• 5. Turn off the heat, add the fresh basil and process with an immersion blender. Adjust the taste with salt and pepper.
• 6. Add the ham and cheese and stir very briefly. Try not to stir so much that the cheese disappears.
• 7. Serve warm or freeze for later reheating.