Baking
57 recipes
I grew up with this soup, and it is still a favourite - velvety smooth, but with that contrasting bite of leek and chives to give it that something special. I think it is possibly the perfect starter for any meal – I chose it for my 40th, as a shot glass warmer while guests were mingling. I make it especially when I see leeks are in season and well-priced. As a main it is a perfect, simple autumn meal.
You must add the chives for the extra kick – it really perfects it. Add the milk gradually, as you work out your desired thickness.
I do like the soup extra smooth and silky for dinner parties, so for those I always push it through a sieve. However, skip that step for a quick midweek, rustic version.
Serves 6 as a main. Freezes well before adding the milk. V.GF.
Pictured: Vichyssoise soup, potato and leek
Ingredients
- 2 onions, roughly diced
- 500-600g leeks (after chopping off the ends), washed and sliced
- 250g potato, sliced (I like Dutch cream potatoes)
- A good knob of butter plus a good glug of light olive oil
- ½ cup white wine
- 600ml vegetable stock
- Salt and pepper (preferable white pepper to avoid speckling the lovely smooth soup)
- 400-500ml milk
- 4 tbsp single cream
- Chopped chives to serve
- Prepare all the vegetables.
Method
In a large saucepan, throw in the butter, oil, onion and leeks, when starting to sizzle turn heat down to low, cover the pot with a lid and let the vegetables “sweat” for 10 minutes to soften.
Pictured: Vichyssoise soup, potato and leek – about to “sweat” the vegetables
Add the wine, stock, potato, salt and pepper and bring to the boil, then simmer until the potato is tender.
Blend the soup til smooth, then push through a sieve – this is worth doing as the soup becomes velvet smooth.
Pour the soup back into a clean saucepan to warm up with the milk and half the cream.
You can put the soup in the fridge and serve cold as it is traditionally, but I like to serve it warm, sprinkled with chives and marbled with the rest of the cream.
Delicious!
Dietary preferences
- Vegetarian
- Gluten-Free with ingredient checks
