Baked Potato Leek Soup With Cheddar Bacon Food

LEEK, POTATO & BACON BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Put the stock in a large pan, bring to the boil, then add the potatoes and the leeks. Bring back to the boil for 5 mins, then drain well, reserving the stock in a jug.
• Meanwhile, butter a large baking dish. Layer up the potatoes and leeks higgledypiggledy, seasoning as you go, then scatter the bacon over the top. Season well, pour over 200ml of the reserved stock, then spoon over the cream (if using) and cover with foil. Can be made up to 1 day ahead and chilled. Bake for 40 mins, uncovering halfway through so that the bacon crisps.

LEEK, BACON & POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large pan, then fry the bacon and onion, stirring until they start to turn golden. Tip in the leeks and potatoes, stir well, then cover and turn down the heat. Cook gently for 5 mins, shaking the pan every now and then to make sure that the mixture doesn't catch.
• Pour in the stock, season well and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 20 mins until the vegetables are soft. Leave to cool for a few mins, then blend in a food processor in batches until smooth. Return to the pan, pour in the cream and stir well. Taste and season if necessary. Serve scattered with tasty crisp bacon and eat with toasted or warm crusty bread on the side.

POTATO-LEEK SOUP WITH BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Make the croutons: Melt 1 tablespoon butter, then mix with the paprika in a bowl. Add the bread cubes and toss. Spread on a baking sheet and bake until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Discard all but about 1 tablespoon fat from the pan. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, then add the leeks and garlic; cover and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the broth, 2 cups water, the potatoes and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper; cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, partially covered, until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Puree half the soup in a blender (remove the filler cap to let steam escape), then return to the pot. Add the cream and bring to a simmer. Add the peas and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with the croutons, bacon and parsley.

BAKED POTATO, LEEK AND CHEESE SOUP

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 200C/400F/GMK6 and bake the potatoes in their skins for about 1 hour until cooked. Cool completely before using.
• Melt 2 oz (50g) the butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks and garlic, season with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and 16 fl.oz (500ml) water. Simmer until the leeks are very tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, fry the bacon in the remaining butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp. Drain on kitchen paper and set aside.
• Cut one of cooled potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop the flesh out in one piece from each half. Cut the flesh into ½ in (1 ½ cm) cubes and set aside.
• Coarsely chop the potato skin and the entire remaining potato and add to the saucepan with the leeks.
• Puree the contents of the pot in batches in a blender until very smooth. Return the soup to a clean pot and reheat gently.
• Whisk together the milk and sour cream and then and stir into the soup, along with ½ of the Cheddar cheese. Stir in the diced potato. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve garnished with the remaining Cheddar cheese, the bacon bits, and chives.

BAKED POTATO & LEEK SOUP WITH CHEDDAR & BACON

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Scrub the potatoes, pat dry, and pierce several times with a fork. Set them directly on the oven rack and bake until very tender, about 1 hour. Let cool completely on a cooling rack.
• *Cook's Note: Sharp cheese works well in this soup because it melts smoothly. Extra sharp will give you a more pronounced flavor but because of the lower moisture content, the soup will be less smooth.

CHEESY POTATO LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Saute leeks, onion, garlic, bay leaves, and coriander in hot butter and oil until softened and translucent, about 7 minutes. Add potatoes and chicken bouillon to the pot and pour enough chicken stock over the top to cover vegetables. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Mash potatoes to desired consistency with a potato masher. Stir Colby-Monterey Jack cheese and cream into potato mixture, return soup to a simmer, and cook until cheese melts and soup is hot, about 15 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. Remove and discard bay leaves.
• Ladle soup into bowls and top with chives.