Belgian Leek Soup Food

CHERVIL LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• In your soup pot, saute onions and leeks over medium heat until soft. (Tip: salt the onions and leeks at this stage so they release their moisture faster.).
• Add water.
• Add chervil, bullion cubes, and bouquet garni and let simmer for 15 minutes over medium heat.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Remove bouquet garni and blend soup.
• Add meatballs if desired.

CREAM OF BELGIAN ENDIVE SOUP

Steps:

• Cut leeks in half lengthwise. Rinse well under cold running water to remove any grit. Thinly slice crosswise; set aside.
• Cut endives in half lengthwise, and cut out and discard the cores. Thinly slice crosswise; set aside.
• Peel potatoes, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Set aside in a bowl of cold water.
• Heat butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks; cook until they start to soften, about 3 minutes. Drain potatoes well; add to pot along with sliced endive. Cook until vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes; do not let brown.
• Add wine and stock, and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook until vegetables are very tender, about 1 hour. Cool slightly.
• Transfer soup in batches to a blender (fill no more than halfway), or pass it through a food mill. Return to a clean saucepan; stir in cream. Bring to a simmer; remove from heat. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Garnish with endive.

CREAMY LEEK & BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan, add the leeks and cook on a low-medium heat for 5 mins. Pour in the bouillon, tip in the beans, cover and simmer for 10 mins.
• Stir in the garlic and spinach, cover the pan and cook for 5 mins more until the spinach has wilted but still retains its fresh green colour.
• Add the milk and plenty of pepper, and blitz with a stick blender until smooth. Ladle into bowls and chill the remainder.

LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Cut leeks into thin slices. In a skillet, saute leeks and onion in butter until tender but not browned. Transfer to a soup kettle or Dutch oven. Add potatoes, broth and parsley; cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender. Strain; set broth aside. Puree vegetables in a blender or food processor. Return puree and broth to pan. Stir a small amount of pureed mixture into egg yolk; return to pan. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg. Cook over medium heat until a thermometer reads 160°, stirring occasionally. Add the cream; heat through but do not boil. Garnish with bacon.

COCK A LEEKIE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot over high heat, combine the chicken, water, onion and barley. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour. Remove chicken, discard the bones and skin, chop meat into bite size pieces and return to the pot.
• Add the chicken broth, leeks, celery, thyme, parsley, salt and ground black pepper. Simmer for 30 more minutes, or until all vegetables are tender.

LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Saute the bacon in a large soup pot over medium heat until crisp, then remove it from the pan, drain on paper towels, and reserve for the garnish.
• Prep the remaining ingredients as directed in the recipe list.
• In the soup pot, reheat the bacon grease over medium heat and stir in the leeks, turning to coat them and sauteing for several minutes, until they take on a little golden color.
• Pour in the stock, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
• Remove from the heat.
• Puree the soup, solids first, then pour back into the pot.
• Season with salt and pepper.

LEEK & BUTTER BEAN SOUP WITH CRISPY KALE & BACON

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large saucepan over a low heat. Add the leeks, thyme and seasoning. Cover and cook for 15 mins until softened, adding a splash of water if the leeks start to stick. Add the butter beans with the water from the cans, the stock and mustard. Bring to the boil and simmer for 3-4 mins until hot. Blend the soup in a food processor or with a stick blender, stir through the parsley and check the seasoning.
• Put the bacon in a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Cook for 3-4 mins until crispy, then set side to cool. Add the remaining 1 tsp oil to the pan, and tip in the kale and hazelnuts. Cook for 2 mins, stirring until the kale is wilted and crisping at the edges and the hazelnuts are toasted. Cut the bacon into small pieces, then stir into the kale mixture.
• Reheat the soup, adding a splash of water if it is too thick. Serve in bowls sprinkled with the bacon & kale mixture.

LEEK AND CANNELLINI BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• 1. In a large pot, put 1/4 cup of the oil over high heat and heat until it shimmers. Add the leeks and sauté for 2 minutes.
• 2. Add the carrots, celery, turnip, and salt and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring the soup to a boil. Lower the heat, cover the pot, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• 3. Add the cannellini beans and simmer for another 2 minutes.
• 4. Ladle the soup into bowls. Sprinkle each portion with cheese and drizzle with a tablespoon of olive oil.