Simple Artichoke Soup Recipes

ARTICHOKE SOUP

Steps:

• Sauté the onion in olive oil, over medium-high heat in a pot, stirring for 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and lower heat to medium. Cook garlic until fragrant, 2-3 more minutes. Add celery, sauté 1 minute. Add potatoes, artichoke hearts, broth, optional cashews, salt and sage (or thyme).
• Bring to a boil, cover, lower heat and simmer until potatoes are very tender about 15 minutes.
• Blend in 2 batches, for a full minute each, making sure those silky fibers get all blended up. I will often give the soup a taste right from the blender to see if it is still fibrous. If so, keep blending, they will go away, I promise!!!
• Place back in the pot over very low heat. Add a little squeeze of lemon, and swirl in sour cream if using.
• Taste, and adjust salt and lemon to taste.
• Season with pepper.
• Serve in bowls with a sprig of thyme a swirl of sour cream or vegan sour cream (see note) and a drizzle of truffle oil to elevate. A light sprinkling of black salt adds a nice contrast, or add croutons, toasted pinenuts, vegan cheesy sprinkle.

ARTICHOKE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter and cook the artichoke hearts, leek, garlic, onion and shallots until tender but not brown. Add the potatoes and stock. Tie up the bay leaf, thyme, parsley and peppercorns in cheesecloth and add to the pot. Simmer, uncovered, 1 hour.
• Remove and discard the herbs. Purée the soup and pass it through a fine strainer. When ready to serve, heat the soup and whisk in the remaining butter and the cream. Season with salt and serve.

QUICK AND EASY ARTICHOKE SOUP

Steps:

• Sauté onions, garlic, and shallots in oil over medium heat until soft, about 2 minutes.
• Add artichoke hearts, stock, wine, and brandy.
• Bring to a boil, turn to the lowest setting, and simmer covered 10 minutes. If you want a smoother consistency, you can puree it at this time.
• Pepper (and sugar, if desired) to taste, and serve topped with cheese, a dollop of yogurt or sour cream, and a sprinkling of fresh Italian parsley or dill.

CREAMY ARTICHOKE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a heavy, large pot over medium heat. Add the leeks and the garlic and stir. Add the potatoes and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. Add the artichokes, stock, salt, and pepper and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Using a handheld immersion blender, or in a blender in batches*, puree the soup. Add the 2 tablespoons mascarpone and blend again to combine. In a small bowl, stir the remaining 1/3 cup mascarpone to soften.
• Ladle the soup into serving bowls. Dollop the top of each of the soups with a spoonful of the softened mascarpone cheese and top the cheese with chives.
• * When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

ARTICHOKE PARMESAN SOUP

Steps:

• Chop the carrot, celery and onion into almost a purée in a food processor. Set aside.
• Drain the artichoke hearts and reserve the liquid. Place the artichoke hearts in the food processor and purée, using some of the liquid if necessary to facilitate puréeing. Set aside.
• Heat up the olive oil in a large saucepan, then add the puréed carrot, celery and onion and cook on high heat for 1 minute, stirring constantly because they can burn easily. Add the puréed artichoke hearts and their liquid and 4 cups water. Bring the soup to a boil on high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer gently for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring every few minutes so that it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan!
• Mix the cornstarch with 1 cup warm water in a small bowl, using your hands to make sure the cornstarch is fully dissolved, then add the mixture to the soup and bring it back to boil. If the soup is too thick for your taste, add a bit more water; if it is too thin, add a bit more cornstarch mixed with water. Don't overdo it, because a bit of cornstarch goes a long way.
• Add the cream to the soup and stir, then remove the pot from the stove. Add the grated cheese to the soup a bit at the time, using a whisk to work it into the soup so that it doesn't form large clumps. Add 1 tablespoon salt, then taste the soup and, if you think it is necessary, add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE SOUP

Steps:

• Brush and scrub Jerusalem artichokes under cold running water. Cut them into 1/4inch slices and toss with lemon juice. Melt butter in a 4quart nonreactive saucepan. Add leek, carrot and Jerusalem artichokes with the lemon juice. Cover and cook over gentle heat for 20 minutes. Add 2 1/2 cups stock or water, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cover and simmer for another 25 minutes. When cooked, remove from the heat and puree the soup with an additional 1/2 cup stock, or water and cream. Pass puree through a drum sieve. Return soup to a clean saucepan and reheat.
• Ladle soup into warm soup bowls and dust each portion with fresh grated nutmeg.

SIMPLE ARTICHOKE SOUP

Steps:

• Drain artichokes hearts, and cut off course tops.
• Puree the artichokes with chicken broth.
• Pour into pan, add remaining ingredients and heat.