Leek and Potato Soup (Soups)

Member Name: hypno06

Product:	Soups
Date:	09/01/09 (211 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Simple, full of flavour and so filling

Disadvantages: None!

During the chilly winter months, there is nothing better than a flask or a bowl of piping hot thick and hearty soup to warm you through and fill you up.

I have a yeast allergy, so try and keep my bread intake to an absolute minimum - this means that lunchtimes can be a bit boring as I get fed up of salad......so to have a bowl of soup makes a substantial meal as a good alternative to the sarnie.

The soup also freezes well, so you can make a big pot like this and portion it up for future weeks!

This is a recipe for Leek & Potato soup, and is one of my absolute favourites, as it is so simple to make and is nicely flavoured and very filling.

**Ingredients:**

2 or 3 onions
2 or 3 good sized leeks - cleaned and trimmed, but use as much of the leek (white and green) as you can for maximum flavour and minimum wastage!
2 good sized white peeled and diced potatoes (or an equivalent amount of smaller ones) - these can be slightly past their best!
3 pints of vegetable or chicken stock
salt and pepper
glug of olive oil

Optional extras - double cream and grated cheese......

**Method**
1. Slice the onions and leeks, place them in a large pan or stockpot and gently fry them in the olive oil, allowing them to soften but not to go crispy.

2. Add the potatoes, and the stock and bring to the boil. Simmer until the potatoes are soft.

3. With a hand blender or whisk, blend the soup to the consistency that suits you

4. If you like your soup thin, you can add a little more hot water.

5. Season with salt and pepper to taste

6. If you want, (and I usually do) add a dash of cream just before serving, and sprinkle grated cheese on top of the bowl of piping hot soup......the cheese melts and makes a lovely stringy delicious, child-like meal, which is substantial and filling!

If you are freezing this soup, it is best to do so before adding cream. If you do add cream and then freeze it, you may find the soup separates a bit - this is usually ok after heating and stirring.

I find that this is filling enough for a main meal for me - but my husband would consider it only as a lunch or as a starter.....

If you use vegetable stock, this soup is suitable for vegetarians. If you omit the cream and cheese it is suitable for vegans too.

Enjoy!

Summary: It's what winter was made for....