Potato Leek Soup / Vichyssoise
Potato leek soup, or potage parmentier, is a French classic. It’s an essential base soup in French cuisine. Add watercress to make potage au cresson, serve it chilled to make Vichyssoise, or top it with bacon, fried leeks, fresh herbs, or diced vegetables. There are endless variations – just use your imagination (or whatever you have in the kitchen) to make it your own. Potato leek soup is simple to make and can be served as an appetizer, a side dish alongside a sandwich or salad, or as a stand-alone lunch.
Ingredients
- ½ large Onion
- 3 sticks of celery finely chopped
- 1/2 stick of butter
- 1 to 1 ½ pounds Leeks white and light green parts only
- 2 pounds Baking Potatoes cut into large chunks
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 4 whole Garlic cloves
- 4 cups Chicken Stock
- ¾ cups Heavy Cream
- Sour Cream for garnish
- Chives for garnish
Instructions
- Sweat the onion in a pot until translucent using butter and a little olive oil. Avoid caramelizing.
- Add the celery and leeks (after cutting and rinsing them thoroughly to remove sand), Incorporate the potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Add the garlic cloves, and chicken stock (just enough to cover the vegetables). Avoid overfilling to ensure the right consistency. Cook at a medium heat until the potatoes are tender and can be smashed with ease, about 45 minutes to an hour.
- Using an immersion blender to purée the mixture until smooth. Once blended, stir in 1 to 1 ½ cups of cream. Serve hot or allow the soup to cool and refrigerate for at least 24 hours.
- Pour the hot or chilled Vichyssoise into serving bowls. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream in the center.
- Garnish with Chives or the leafy tops of Celery.
Video
Notes
Try using chopped bacon to the onions and add a diced carrot to take the flavor closer to a German soup ending by topping with sausage to the finished hot soup
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