Uncle Johns Baked Potato Soup Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S HAM AND POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a stockpot over medium heat until golden brown. Stir in carrot, celery, onion, ham, and garlic; cook and stir for 5-6 minutes, until the vegetables soften and the onions are translucent.
• Stir in flour; cook for about 3 minutes. Stir in chicken broth, 1 cup at a time. Add water and stir to combine. Turn the heat to high and bring to a simmer. Simmer on medium-low for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Taste the soup for salt and add more if necessary. Stir in potatoes; cook for 15 minutes, until potatoes are tender. Skim fat if desired.
• With a potato masher, mash the soup a few times, leaving plenty of whole chunks of potato. Season with salt and pepper to taste, add cayenne if desired, and add cream. Stir to combine and heat through. Garnish with fresh chives.

FULLY LOADED BAKED POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the potatoes on a roasting tray and bake for 45 minutes. When done, the tip of a paring knife should go through the potatoes easily.
• Slice the bacon into lardons (thin strips) and cook in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon from the pot with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pot.
• Add the flour to the drippings in the pot and stir to combine. Cook, without adding color, until the flour and fat has combined, about 1 minute. Pour in the milk while you whisk to incorporate. Cook over medium heat until bubbly and thickened, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes.
• Scoop out the potato pulp from the skins and add to the milk mixture. Mash with the back of a wooden spoon leaving it a little bit chunky.
• Add the cooked bacon (leaving a little out for garnishing the soup), 1 cup of the cheese, and season well with salt and pepper. Stir until the cheese has melted. Remove from the heat.
• Ladle the soup into bowls, drizzle with sour cream (from a squeeze bottle), sprinkle with remaining bacon bits, grated cheese and chives.

CHEF JOHN'S TWICE-BAKED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Rub potatoes with vegetable oil and place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a paring knife easily inserts into the center of a potato, about 1 hour. Set aside to cool until easy to handle, about 10 minutes.
• Cut 1/3 off each potato lengthwise. Scoop flesh from each potato to within about 1/8-inch of the skins. Transfer flesh to a bowl.
• Combine potato flesh with butter and green onion; stir until butter is melted evenly into potato. Add salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and cheese; stir until cheese is melted. Pour cream and egg yolk into potato mixture; mix to combine. Season with salt to taste.
• Place small piece of potato skin inside the bottom of each larger potato shell. Fill each potato with an equal amount of cheese mixture. Gently press the surface of the filling with a fork to create texture. Brush tops with melted butter and sprinkle with paprika.
• Bake stuffed potatoes until golden brown on top, 20 to 30 minutes.

UNCLE BILL'S SPECIAL CREAMY POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan or a medium cooking pot, add potatoes, cover with water; bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and cook for about 10 minutes. The potatoes will not be fully cooked and that is fine.
• Drain and transfer to a large cooking pot.
• In a large frying pan, on medium-high heat, melt 1/4 cup of butter.
• Add sliced onions, stir and cook until onions are translucent, about 3 minutes.
• Add flour and stir well to coat onions.
• Add leeks, celery and garlic and fry for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Transfer the onion-leek mixture to the large cooking pot.
• Add chicken broth, bring to boil, reduce heat and cook for about 3 minutes.
• Add the milk, whipping cream, salt, pepper, thyme, and celery seeds.
• Bring the soup to boil, reduce heat and cook for 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
• In a food processor or blender, puree soup in batches until smooth and return to the cooking pot. You may also use an immersion blender.
• Add grated cheese and bring to just boil or until cheese melts.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Serve soup hot.
• Refrigerate any unused portion ot the soup.

BAKED POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-in. cubes; place half in a blender. Add broth; cover and process until smooth. Pour into a saucepan. Stir in sour cream, pepper and remaining potatoes. Cook over low heat until heated through (do not boil). Garnish with cheese, bacon and onion.

UNCLE JOHN'S BAKED POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Bake potatoes until tender.
• Melt butter slowly in pan, blend in flour, making a roux.
• Gradually add milk, stirring constantly, then add salt and pepper to taste.
• Scoop out potatoes and set aside.
• Chop half of the potato peels to use in soup.
• When milk is very hot, whisk in potatoes, onions, and potato peels.
• Whisk well and add sour cream. Heat thoroughly.
• Add cheese a little at a time until all is melted. Serve with crumbled bacon.