Monday, March 16, 2009

Potato and Leek Soup


I get a weekly CSA box from Worden Farms. I kind of have a love/hate sort of thing going on with it. I thought I would really love it. Supporting the local, organic and sustainable farmer and all. Well turns out it’s really not the best thing for me. I am not very satisfied with what is being sent to me. Not that I am being ripped off or the produce isn’t great but I am so uninspired by a box full of veggies. I want to be at the market or the farm and be able to touch, see, smell and feel the vegetables. This past week I went so far as to go to their weekly farmers’ market to see what I was missing I walked out of there with about $30 worth of stuff but also totally inspired again!!! Sadly I think next year will be a Farmer’s Market year and no more CSA box for me!

Onto the Potato and Leek soup and how it fits into my CSA box story…

I have been getting a bunch of potatoes in my box lately and I had been wanting to make soup out of them but I have been waiting to get some leeks to make Potato and Leek Soup so when I went the other day I picked up a beautiful bundle of leeks.

I really like simple soups where the true flavors come shining through. T. is of the mindset that everything is better with bacon and could not even fathom the idea that I wanted to make a potato soup without bacon in it. Turns out it was a great recipe and he really loved it. Thanks Alana!!! Took it for lunch today if that means anything!

Potato and Leek Soup (Butter is Love)

Ingredients:

  • 2 T butter
  • 3 leeks (I used 4 because that’s what I had)
  • 4 medium potatoes (I used a bunch of small red skins)
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 qt. chicken broth
  • I added garlic powder and onion powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • milk to desired consistency
Directions:
  1. Thinly slice leeks to the top of the light green part and put in a bowl of water to soak out any dirt
  2. Thinly slice potatoes (I leave the skins on for flavor and potassium)Heat 2 T of butter in a large pot over medium heat
  3. Add potatoes to the pot and sautée until they start to brown
  4. Add garlic and sautée for one minute, careful not to burn
  5. Drain and add leeks, sautée until wilted
  6. Add 1 qt chicken broth and simmer for 30 min (check your potatoes for doneness)
  7. Immersion blend or blend in a regular blender (Be very careful if using a regular blender, only blend half at a time. Trust me.)
  8. Blend in milk until desire consistency is reached
  9. Salt and pepper to taste

This was a beautiful and simple recipe that let the wonderful ingredients shine without covering it up in bacon fat (which does have it’s place people! Just not in this soup)

As Always…

Happy Entertaining!!!

Judy
www.nofearentertaining.com

22 comments:

Patsyk said...

I love potato soup! Yours looks wonderful (jealous that you can get great pictures of soup - I cannot do that!).

I had thought about doing a CSA, but was worried about not being inspired by what I'd get each week. May just keep doing the farmer's market thing this year so that I can see what looks good, and still support those farmers.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Potato soup is my all time favourite. We have a company that delivers something similar to a CSA box but you get to choose what you want, plus you can add local dairy products as well such as cheeses and yogurts. It saves trying to source these things down yourself. Of course in the middle of the winter as it is now there are no local products besides dairy available.

Elle said...

Judy it looks wonderful! Nice photo!

We're trying a CSA this year, I think. We found one where you can actually go to the farm and choose your stuff. Pretty excited!

Peter M said...

Judy, I say let the CSA delivery lapse, then seek out the farmer's markets for future produce runs.

This soup is one of my faves, it's quite easy and if you chill this, add some chopped chives...you have Vichyciosse?

Kat said...

I made my first pot of potato soup this past week. I got the recipe from cooks.com, (Chunky Potato Soup) where I go from time to time to find a recipe. Although I had to improvise on some of the ingredients, it turned out so good, that I only got one bowl out of it and my son ate the rest! I will make it again.

Sandy Smith said...

Judy, I love your garnish on this soup. So elegant!

sj said...

beautiful and sounds delicious too.. nice!

Peter G | Souvlaki For The Soul said...

I say go to the market! Great soup..potatoes are just so comforting and delicious!

Debbie said...

I love potato soup and have not had it in so long. Love your banana cake too!

Anonymous said...

Very nice photo!

I made this dish over the weekend again, it is always so satisfying (and easy). I found this wonderful Cotswold cheese, to put on top it, I highly recommend!

Meghan said...

How funny -- I was craving potato leek soup, too! And picked up leeks from my farmer's market (our potato lady wasn't there on Saturday) and made the soup on Saturday. Such a great soup.

An idea for a "topper" is to cut a 4" piece of a leek, and then slice the leek in half lengthwise, and then cut into thin slivers -- with the grain -- and then fry quickly in some oil. They crisp up nicely and look great as "shoestring" leeks on the soup and give it a great crunch and caramelized flavor.

Love the blog!

Melissa said...

I'll echo what others have said about the CSA - I know about ones where you go and pick out what you want and I bet that makes it a lot more enjoyable. If you don't like yours because they just send you stuff, then definitely go, see, feel at a Farmer's Market. I don't blame ya.

And potato and leek soup is perfection all on its own. Definitely something I would take for lunch, as I do with any soup I make since it's just us two. This one should be on my list.

Prabath said...

cool post, I like it, keep up the good work.

Prabath
Developer "Top 100 Celebrities"
(Vote your favorite celebrity)
http://apps.facebook.com/top_celebrities/
http://prabath321.blogspot.com/

Maria said...

The soup looks very nice. I love potatoes and leeks together!

Unknown said...

Butter is love!! Happy St. Pat's day. I wonder if it just depends on the CSA you join? I used to get all sorts of crazy fun, unusual things. Got to love a good farmers market though!

Best,
emily
justeatfood.com

Anonymous said...

This soup looks like it would make a person with a cold feel better. Mainly me. :-(

Jenna (katom)

Anonymous said...

I make a very basic but flavorful leek and potato soup every March 1, to celebrate St. David's Day (he is the patron saint of Wales, and leeks are the traditional food to serve). Love the leek garnish in your photos!

Anonymous said...

This looks like a yummy recipe -- potato leek is one of our faves! On the CSA box -- I've been doing my research around here and have hesitated each time for the exact reasons you mention. The only way I've thought to deal with it is to know what is in season or growing and have some possibilities lined up. Still not the same, though, right?

Anonymous said...

Judy,
I echo your thoughts on the CSA thing. We joined a local CSA last summer, only to be disappointed by week after week of yellow squash zucchini, and red potatoes. All lovely, but not the same experience as walking the market, getting inspired, taking the produce home and turning it into something amazing. We just received the renewal form for the CSA in the mail...we are going to pass and head back to the market.

Mike of Mike's Table said...

I've wanted to join a CSA, but this is exactly the worry that has kept me from doing so. And that soup looks fantastic--I love potato soup and this looks very much like my kind of potato soup

Anonymous said...

I was thinking about getting CSA as well but I thought that I'd feel the same way you did. Maybe some other time :)

Nanette said...

Hi Judy! I just jumped onto tastespotting to see what looks good today. I have an abundance of potatoes from our CSA, and I happened to think hmm potato leek soup sounds good, right as I spotted you pic. I was so surprised to read that your potatoes came from Worden Farm too! Small world. We live in Naples. I have the same love-hate relationship as you have with the box. I love some of the food, and I love the challenge of cooking new foods, but sometimes I'm overwhelmed by the quantity! And then I have guilt over wasting food from the box. It's fun to relate to someone! I may make that banana cake recipe I spotted on your blog...