Friday, November 5, 2010

Simple creamy potato soup

(via)
I admit, the first time I saw Cook's Illustrated magazine, I was intimidated - it looked like an encyclopedia! But it turned out user-friendly & I've made their warming, simple pureed soup for years.
~ Have a wonderful weekend! ~
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SIMPLE CREAMY POTATO SOUP (Serves 4 to 6)
Adapted slightly (skim milk not whole, extra garnishes) from a 1990s Cook's Illustrated (I sadly never wrote down which issue). This soup can be pureed in one batch in most 5-7 cup blenders.
  • 2 tablespoons (~30g) butter, olive oil, or vegetable oil
  • 1 medium onion, 3 medium shallots, or 1 medium leek (white and light green parts only), chopped
  • 2 tablespoons (~30ml) white wine
  • 2 large potatoes (about 1-1/2 pounds, or 24 ounces), peeled and cut into 1/2 inch (~1.25cm) dice to yield 4 cups
  • 2 cups (~500ml) chicken or vegetable stock
  • Salt and ground white pepper to taste
  • 1 to 1-1/4 cups (~250-310ml) skim (fat-free) milk
  • Optional: 2 teaspoons (~10g) minced fresh chives
  • Optional: Minced white or light green part of 1 leek (cooked gently in oil or butter a few minutes until softened)
  • Optional: Heavy (whipping) cream to drizzle, fresh-ground black or pink peppercorns
Heat butter or oil in a large (easily-pourable) saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion; saute until golden, about 5 minutes. Add wine & potatoes; stir until wine evaporates, about 30 seconds.

Add stock, and salt and pepper to taste, to saucepan; bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer; cover & cook potatoes until very tender, about 20 minutes.

Pour or ladle potato mixture into blender. Add 1 cup milk; blend until very smooth. Return soup to saucepan; cook over low heat until warmed through (can also cook optional leek garnish at this point). If soup is too thick, stir in more milk. Adjust seasonings.

Ladle soup into individual bowls. Garnish with minced chives and/or leeks. Drizzle some cream, grind fresh pepper and chow!

Little notes:
If you don't have a standard blender for pureeing, the next best thing is a handheld immersion blender, but don't use a food processor because it tends to leak hot liquid (I tried once just to see - even though the recipe warned against it! - because I often do stupid things :)).

65 comments:

  1. This sounds really delicious - I love finding new recipes for veggie soups

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  2. It sounds really delicious.
    I sometimes puree the items for soup before cooking - no hot liquids to pour (and I dont have an immersion blender, only a standard one).

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  3. ooh yum! I always thought Cook's Illustrated was intimidating too. I better start putting my immersion blender to use, it is kinda soup season here, the weather fluxtuates (sp?)

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  4. this looks so good and simple, perfect for a cold autumn night.

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  5. I love potatoe soup, might try out this one :)
    Have a lovely weekend Jude!

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  6. Really sounds good, especially right now when the weather is so cold, rainy, and dreary here. Wonderful comfort food! Thank you for sharing.

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  7. it make my mouth water!!! Yummie

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  8. YUM, I love potato soup! This would be perfect to make on cold, rainy days!

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  9. I've been needing a break from my butternut squash soup. I think this will be perfect -- I may even switch out the potatoes for sweet potatoes to sweeten the deal.

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  10. That soup looks really creamy! I can imagine the smoothness of the taste in one's mouth....yum!

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  11. Oh, I would appreciate it if someone cooked it for me one of these days :) This sounds especially nice during the wintertime, you know!!

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  12. I have been wanting to try a potato soup recipe. Definitely think its about time now.

    Enjoy the weekend!

    xo

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  13. Yum, Jude this looks amazing!!
    have a wonderful weekend!


    xx
    Nikki

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  14. Oh I want this today and it looks like something I can make without incident (though good thing you mentioned the food processor no no because I probably would have tried). I love potatoes.

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  15. Potato soup is my favorite!!! I make potato leek soup every weekend and have it for lunch 2 days a week. Creature of habit much? :)

    Love this variation. I'm definitely going to give it a shot. Might spice up my lunch routine :)

    Have a great weekend, sweetie! xoxo

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  16. I'm all for comfort food!
    Thank you Jude~ YUM*

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  17. potato soup on a chilly day is perfection

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  18. I would totally be the person to use the food processor. Isn't that what they are made for? And this soup is perfect for cold nights. Yum!

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  19. Beautiful!
    I lake it!

    Kisses and happy weekend.

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  20. Fall time = soup time! Looking delicious, Jude. We are covered by tons of sweet raindrops too!
    Sending some sunbeams your way xxxx

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  21. thanks for sharing, jude.
    i'm currently addicted to soups, so this one is very inspiring.:)

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  22. I am soooo definitely going to try this!!

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  23. hi there mrs 'j'; just to say hi and thanks for all your kind and encouraging comments; don't call me 'mrs potato head'! kinda hate these little versatile chappies, BUT, this recipe looks like it could change things... x

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  24. Just last week I made a spinach potatoe soup. It was very nourishing and delicious. Thank you for the recipe and pictures above. I shall try my hand at this.
    Have a sweet weekend;-)

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  25. delicious! love potatoes! have a great weekend!

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  26. How delicious and comforting soup Jude. Love the simplicity of this soup !

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  27. Lesson No. 1: never EVER read Jude's blog when you are hungry... Now I want some of that soup!! Thanks for sharing! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  28. Ooh, this looks good. I've never made potato soup, but it sounds like a good Sunday welcome home dish for the hubby! :)

    I love your little notes and word processor tidbit!

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  29. Jude, this looks DELISH!!! I can't wait to try! Hope you have a great weekend! xo

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  30. Potato soup is, by far, one of my favorites. The pictures and recipe look and sound so good!

    Have a great weekend - it's 95 so I'm cutting out early!
    Carrie

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  31. It looks very delicious ♥ If I only had time to cook all recipes from your blog!
    xoxo from Hannie

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  32. Thanks so much for your lovely comments everyone!

    @Indie.Tea - that's a fantastic tip, thank you! I'm going to try that next time.
    @Dawn - so funny, I was hooked on leek soup for the longest time! A totally obsession worthy dish :)

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  33. I could definitely go for a big bowl of that right now. YUM!

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  34. Oh my, it looks fantastic!

    I'm a huge fan of Cook's Illustrated. I love them so much that I have a paid subscription to their entire collection of online recipes, a paid subscription to their TV on demand (can't get their shows in japan otherwise) and I recently upgraded to their premier collection of recipes. Despite all the other free recipes online out there, I've never regretted paying for special access to theirs. Everything is well tested, and they actually teach you how to understand food and how to cook.

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  35. That looks yum! Perfect soup for the cold weather coming. Yesterday I saw a recipe for cauliflower cream soup...have you ever had it? I'm thinking really healthy and really good:) Enjoy your weekend...wait...do you live in Princeton? I live in Princeton!! (I spotted the Bent Spoon on your side bar) Julie xo

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  36. potato is like my staple daily diet, this sounds just perfect.

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  37. yum! It is getting to be the perfect weather for hot, creamy soups! I'll be trying it :)

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  38. Great day here in Sydney for a soup. I should try it, shouldn't I?

    Looks yummy..
    LOx

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  39. LOVE LOVE potato soup...its perfect for this time of year, and this recipe looks super easy!!!

    Thanks!!


    Stop by and say Hello ♥
    I’m the MTV Style Blogger of the Week!!!

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  40. perfect for a chilly fall/winter evening... looks delicious!

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  41. this looks yummy. Thanks for the recipe. :)

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  42. Now this is what I call a perfect weekend recipe! Delicious girl!!

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  43. I LOVE potato soup -- it's my favorite kind of soup -- and this looks like something even I could master. Thanks for posting Jude!

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  44. I was just telling the boyfriend that I'm hungry and could go for soup. And then I see this! Looks delicious!
    ---
    Jessica
    Style Obsession
    Win it! KM2 Shoes

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  45. Ok, so this is something that i'll try, well not me the hubby since he's the chef in the family:-). He always puree his soups too and we were just thinking that we needed to get a new blender! Anyway, this looks delicious and i'll show it to him. He's been making me soup since he's been back too! I hope you're having a great weekend dear Jude! XX

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  46. This looks easy and delicious. Though it's spring here the nights are cold enough for soup and crusty bread!

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  47. What a good looking bowl of potato soup! Yummy!

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  48. This. Looks. INCREDIBLE. I want to eat my screen. Seriously.

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  49. Mmmmmm! it looks so good, it reminds me to Visichua.

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  50. very yummy and perfect for these days!!! hope you're having a nice weekend!

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  51. Oh, it looks so delicious and sounds so good!!!!!
    Have wonderful sunday evening and a great new week,
    Yvonne

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  52. oh wow!! i want to make this, RIGHT NOW!!

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  53. Ohhh I really have to try this one:) Yummy...You know how much I love soups...Kisses,sweetie

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  54. Sounds like something I would do too. Blend it in a food processor.

    Potatoe soup is just one of those hearty feel warm inside type of soups.

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  55. Now that it's almost winter I'm all about soups. Last week was lentil, the week before that black bean chili . . . and potato might have to be next! I think I'd leave some of the potato as chunks, though, cause I like soups best when there are chunks of veggies instead of just puree. Maybe It's cause I need to be convinced that I'm eating and not drinking? haha, who knows.

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  56. Sometimes I forget about simple soups like this. I will be making this this weekend !

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  57. Mmmm...Absolutely the best thing in winter -
    a) It's soup - very comforting and warming
    b) It's starchy. I always crave starch on these cold winter days ... which is why I end up feeling like El Blimpo by the time March comes around! :D

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