Alton Brown Vegetable Soup Food

ONE CHICKEN, SIXTY-MINUTE SOUP

Steps:

• Remove the legs and wings from the chicken and set aside. Cut the meat off the breast bone, reserving the carcass. Remove the skin from the breasts and legs and spread the skin, fat-side down, on paper towels or paper plates to dry. Reserve for Gimme Some Skin (see separate recipe).
• Halve a large onion, leaving the skin on, and place it cut side down in a 6- to 6 1/2-quart stovetop pressure cooker. Sear it over high heat, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat.
• Add the 2 halved carrots, 2 halved celery stalks, leek tops and dried mushrooms to the pot. Then add the chicken carcass, legs, thighs and wings with the peppercorns and bay leaves. Add the water and use tongs or a wooden spoon to push as much of the chicken under water as possible.
• Attach the pressure cooker's lid and heat on high. When full pressure is reached, about 5 to 10 minutes, lower the heat to medium-low. (You shouldn't hear the whistle, only a soft hiss). Cook 30 minutes.
• Remove the pressure cooker from the heat and release the pressure by placing the cooker in the sink and dousing with cold water for one minute. Then release the pressure lock and remove lid.
• Strain the solids first through a colander, then a fine sieve or cheesecloth.
• Return the stock back to the pot. Add the shoyu, togarashi, lemon juice and chicken breasts to the pot and bring to a boil (without the lid), then reduce the heat to low. Simmer 5 minutes.
• After 5 minutes, check the breasts for doneness (I usually pull them at 150 degrees F) and remove to a large bowl. Add the remaining diced carrots and parsnips to the broth and simmer 3 minutes more. Then add the remaining diced celery and leeks. Kill the heat and allow to sit for 3 minutes, then taste the broth and correct with salt and/or lemon juice to taste.
• Since they're so hot, shred the chicken breasts by either pulling apart with two large forks or hit them with a hand mixer on low...that'll do the trick, too.
• To serve, ladle soup in the bowls, top with some of the breast meat, garnish with the celery leaves and serve with chicken skin "sandwiches." (See separate recipe for Gimme Some Skin.)
• Like any soup...this one is better the next day. Oh, and discard the solids from the pressure cooker...they've given their all.

LEEK POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Chop the leeks into small pieces.
• In a 6-quart saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the leeks and a heavy pinch of salt and sweat for 5 minutes. Decrease the heat to medium-low and cook until the leeks are tender, approximately 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the potatoes and the vegetable broth, increase the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and gently simmer until the potatoes are soft, approximately 45 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and puree the mixture with an immersion blender until smooth. Stir in the heavy cream, buttermilk, and white pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Sprinkle with chives and serve immediately, or chill and serve cold.

LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Place the olive oil into a large 6-quart Dutch oven and set over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion, carrot, celery and salt and sweat until the onions are translucent, approximately 6 to 7 minutes. Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, coriander, cumin and grains of paradise and stir to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook at a low simmer until the lentils are tender, approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Using a stick blender, puree to your preferred consistency. Serve immediately.

ALTON BROWN - POTATO LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Chop the leeks into small pieces.
• In a 6-quart saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the leeks and a heavy pinch of salt and sweat for 5 minutes. Decrease the heat to medium-low and cook until the leeks are tender, approximately 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the potatoes and the vegetable broth, increase the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and gently simmer until the potatoes are soft, approximately 45 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and puree the mixture with an immersion blender until smooth. Stir in the heavy cream, buttermilk, and white pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Sprinkle with chives and serve immediately, or chill and serve cold.

ALTON BROWN'S WINTER VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Place 2 tablespoons of the olive oil into an 8-quart stockpot over high heat until the oil shimmers. Add the mushrooms and saute until browned, about 5 minutes. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and set aside.
• Decrease the heat to low, add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and the carrots, celery, onions and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 30 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, sage, rosemary and garlic, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring to break up the tomatoes. Add the water, soy sauce and Parmesan rind, increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, about 15 minutes. Decrease the heat to low, add the squash and kale, cover and cook until tender, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Return the mushrooms to the pot along with the beans and red wine vinegar and cook until all is heated through, about 15 minutes. Remove the cheese rind and serve warm with shaved Parmesan.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Brush the squash cubes with a little butter and season with 1 tablespoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper. Place the squash on a sheet pan and roast until the flesh is nice and soft, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Combine the roasted squash with the stock, honey, and ginger in a large pot. Bring to a simmer and puree using an immersion blender. As the blender is running, slowly add the cream and return to a low simmer. Add the nutmeg, season with additional salt and pepper, to taste, and stir to combine.

BEEF AND BARLEY STEW

Steps:

• Brown the beef in the pressure cooker over high heat, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain off any fat. Add the tomatoes, broth and barley and return to high heat. Close the pressure cooker and bring to up to full pressure. Reduce the heat until the cooker barley hisses, and cook for 10 minutes.
• Release the pressure using the cooker's release device (read the manual), or cool the cooker by running cold water over the lid for 30 seconds. Open carefully, remove the lid and add the vegetables, herbs, salt and pepper.
• Put the lid back on the pressure cooker and heat to full pressure over high heat. Reduce the heat to maintain pressure and cook another 10 minutes. Release the pressure as above. Remove the lid and cool for 5 minutes, and then serve with vinegar.
• Place the pressure cooker over high heat. Oil and salt the oxtail and shank pieces then sear in batches. Add the remaining ingredients and cover with water, being careful not to fill above the cookers "maximum fill" line. Bring to a boil and skim off any foam that gathers at the surface. Cover and lock the lid. Once the pressure builds up inside the cooker, reduce the heat so that you barely hear hissing from the pot. Cook for 50 minutes.
• Release the pressure using your cooker's release device (read the manual), or cool the cooker by running cold water over the lid for 30 seconds. Carefully open the lid and strain , squeezing the solids before feeding to the compost pile or the dogs. Strain through a fine sieve or several layers of cheesecloth. Season and serve or use as a base for other soup recipes.

GARDEN VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in large, heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium-low heat. Once hot, add the leeks, garlic, and a pinch of salt and sweat until they begin to soften, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Add the carrots, potatoes, and green beans and continue to cook for 4 to 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the stock, increase the heat to high, and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, add the tomatoes, corn kernels, and pepper. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the vegetables are fork tender, approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat and add the parsley and lemon juice. Season, to taste, with kosher salt. Serve immediately.