Leek and Potato Soup

Autumn days call for comfort and sustenance. In the warmer weather we are more likely to have a sandwich for lunch, or a salad . . . but come October/November . . . we like soup!



I like soup. It can be as complicated or as simple as you want it to be. I always have at least some ingredients in my vegetable bin or larder that can easily and quickly be made into a delicious and scrummy soup for a hearty lunch or a simple supper.



A few fresh ingredients, and a bit of stove top magic and you can have something very special and rich to bring some warmth to your chilly fingers and toes.



This soup is delicious and rich and creamy, without all the added fat and calories of using cream or full fat milk. I use tinned evaporated milk, and the light one. Leeks have a strong enough flavour that you can't detect at all the use of tinned milk.



All your friends will think you used cream . . . they won't believe you when you tell them it's not fattening in the least! You could leave the butter out altogether and simply soften your leeks in a few tablespoons of vegetable stock. I do this fairly often with great success.



But then again . . . what is 1 1/2 TBS divided amongst friends? Meh! Not a problem.



*Leek and Potato Soup*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

A delicious creamy soup, that is low in fat and very easy to make. I always make some croutons to serve it with, but you don't need to. It's great with crusy bread or cornbread too! The evaporated milk makes it very creamy and rich without adding cream.

1 1/2 TBS butter
3 leeks, washed thoroughly, trimmed and then thinly sliced
2 stalks of celery, washed and thinly sliced
12 ounces boiling water
3 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 (420g) tin of light evaporated milk (14 ounce), diluted with an equal amount of water
sea salt and ground white pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a large, heavy bottomed saucepan. Add the leeks and celery. Cook over moderate heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionaly. Do not brown. Add 8 ounces (1 cup) of the boiling water and cover. Simmer for 10 more minutes. Add the chopped potato and the remaining boiling water. Cover and simmer for 10 more minutes. Add the tinned milk and water. Cover and simmer for another 10 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Blitz with a stick blender until smooth. You can leave a few lumps for texture if you wish. Delicious!



Cooking in The Cottage today, a delicious Boeuf aux Carottes!