Baked Potato & Leek Soup with Cheddar & Bacon
January 6, 2020
This Baked Potato & Leek Soup with Cheddar & Bacon was what I made for dinner last night. This classic potato and leek soup uses milk and sour cream instead of heavy cream, to reduce the fat. The potatoes are first baked and then combined with the sautéed leeks. The mixture was then puréed. The milk, sour cream and cheese were added at the final stage of cooking. The soup is creamy and topped with chopped green onions, bacon and grated cheddar cheese.
- Yields: 4 Servings
Ingredients
2 medium russet potatoes (about ½ pound each)
2½ cups sliced leeks (about 2 medium leeks; white and light green parts), rinsed well
2 medium cloves garlic, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups homemade or low-salt canned chicken broth
Directions
1Heat the oven to 375º F. Scrub the potatoes in water, pat dry, and pierce in several places with a fork. Set them directly on an oven rack and bake until very tender when pierced with a fork, about 1 hour. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
2Melt the butter in a soup pot over medium-low heat. Add the leeks and garlic, season with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the broth and 2 cups water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the leeks are very tender, about 20 minutes.
3Meanwhile, put the bacon in a skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the bacon bits with a slotted spoon to a saucer lined with paper towels to drain and cool.
4When the potatoes are cool, cut one of them in half lengthwise. Use a large spoon to scoop the flesh in one piece from each half. Cut the flesh into ½-inch cubes and set aside. Coarsely chop the potato skin and the entire remaining potato and add to the pot with the leeks. Purée the contents of the pot in a blender until very smooth (you’ll need to work in two batches). Return the puréed soup to a clean soup pot and reheat over medium-low. Whisk together the milk and sour cream until smooth and then whisk this into the soup, along with ½ cup of the Cheddar. Stir in the diced potato. The soup should be fairly thick, but if it seems too thick, thin it with a little water. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve garnished with the remaining Cheddar, the bacon bits, and the scallions.
Recipe by Jennifer Armentrout, Fine Cooking, Issue 57.
Genesis
June 12, 2024
I have now made this 5 times, an absolute favourite in my house!
Thank you so much 🙂