Leek Soup With Herby Croutons Recipes

MUSHROOM-LEEK SOUP WITH BRIE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Melt butter in large pot over medium-high heat. Add leeks and all mushrooms; sauté 8 minutes. Add flour and stir 1 minute. Gradually mix in stock. Bring to boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Add cream and Sherry and simmer 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in green onions. (Soup can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and refrigerate.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Place bread slices on baking sheet. Bake until light golden, about 10 minutes. Cool. Top croutons with cheese slices.
• Preheat broiler. Place 6 ovenproof bowls or soufflé dishes on baking sheet. Bring soup to simmer; ladle into bowls. Top each with 2 croutons. Broil until cheese is completely melted, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with chives and serve.

LEEK AND POTATO SOUP W/ CROUTONS

Steps:

• Cut leeks in half lengthwise and slice into 1/2-inch pieces. Place leeks in a colander. Separate sliced leeks under cold running water and clean them. Drain well.
• Heat a medium soup pot over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, bay leaf and leeks. Season with salt and pepper. Peel potatoes and thinly slice them, adding them to soup pot as you go. Season potatoes with a little salt, add chicken stock (and water if you're using it) to soup pot. Cover soup and bring to a boil. Uncover and simmer 12 to 15 minutes, until potatoes are very tender. Break up potatoes to slightly thicken soup. Remove bay leaf.
• While soup simmers, rub the inside of a large mixing bowl with the cracked garlic. Slice the bread into small cubes. Add the bread to the bowl, drizzle generously with olive oil, and season well with salt and pepper. Toss the bread in the bowl to completely coat with oil, and pour onto a baking sheet in 1 layer. Place in the oven and toast until golden, about 6 or 8 minutes.
• While croutons bake, cut slab bacon into 1/4-inch slices, making fat matchstick shapes (or regular sliced bacon, cut into quarter inch pieces.) Cook bacon in small nonstick pan over medium high heat. Remove rendered bacon to paper towels.
• To serve soup, ladle into bowls and top with bacon, croutons, chives and cracked pepper. Serve with crusty bread on the side.

LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Cut leeks into thin slices. In a skillet, saute leeks and onion in butter until tender but not browned. Transfer to a soup kettle or Dutch oven. Add potatoes, broth and parsley; cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender. Strain; set broth aside. Puree vegetables in a blender or food processor. Return puree and broth to pan. Stir a small amount of pureed mixture into egg yolk; return to pan. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg. Cook over medium heat until a thermometer reads 160°, stirring occasionally. Add the cream; heat through but do not boil. Garnish with bacon.

LEEK SOUP WITH HERBY CROUTONS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large frying pan and gently cook the potato until tender. Add the leeks and sweat with the lid on for about 5 minutes.
• Add the vegetable stock, bring to the boil and cook for 20 minutes.
• Put the soft cheese with garlic and herbs into a bowl. Add a few spoons of soup and blend together with a fork to make a thick, creamy consistency. Stir into the hot soup and season to taste.
• Toast the bread on both sides and remove the crusts. Cut into bite-sized croutons and spread one side of each with soft cheese.
• Place on a baking sheet and pop under the broiler for a few seconds until golden and bubbling.
• Heat the soup through gently, but do not boil.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and top each one with a few croutons. Sprinkle some chopped chives over and serve.