Broccoli And Leek Puree Food

BROCCOLI PUREE

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with enough water to come 2 inches up the sides of the pot. Set a steamer rack in the pot, cover, and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the potato chunks and cook until they are very tender, about 18 minutes. Transfer the potatoes to a medium bowl and mash until smooth.
• Place broccoli into steamer rack and steam over medium heat until the broccoli is very tender, about 12 minutes. Transfer the broccoli to the bowl of a food processor. Add the broth, cream cheese, and Parmesan. Process until the broccoli is pureed and almost smooth.
• Stir the broccoli puree into the mashed potato and blend well. Season the puree to taste with salt and pepper, and serve.

BROCCOLI SOUP

Steps:

• In a medium-size saucepan, over medium heat, add the garlic, shallots, leeks, onion and thyme. Sweat in the butter until fragrant.
• Add the broccoli stem slices and saute until softened.
• Pour in the chicken stock and bay leaf and simmer for about 20 minutes.
• In the meantime, blanch the broccoli tips in a pot of boiling water over medium heat until bright green. Remove the tips from the water and "shock" in a bowl of iced water.
• Drain the green tips and puree in a blender. Set aside.
• Puree the soup in a blender and strain through a fine chinoise into a large serving bowl.
• Add the green tip puree and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Serve piping hot.

PEA, LEEK & BROCCOLI SOUP

Steps:

• Put the onion, leeks, potatoes, stock and bay leaf in a large heavy saucepan and mix together well. Cover and bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes.
• Add the broccoli and peas, cover and return to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for another 10 minutes.
• Set aside to cool slightly. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Process the soup in a blender or food processor in batches if necessary, until you have a smooth puree.
• Add the parsley, season to taste with salt and pepper and process again briefly. Return to the saucepan and reheat gently until piping hot. Ladle into heated soup bowls and garnish with parsley leaves. Serve immediately.
• Note: If you prefer, cut the vegetables finely and leave the cooked soup chunky rather than pureeing it.
• Note: Substitute frozen or drained, canned corn kernels for the frozen peas.

BROCCOLI-LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• To make the soup, in a large saucepan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the leeks and sauté until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the broccoli and sauté, stirring frequently, until slightly softened, about 2 minutes more.
• Add the stock and bring to a simmer. Cover partially and cook until the vegetables are tender when pierced with a sharp knife, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• In a blender or food processor, puree the soup in batches until smooth and return the soup to the pan. Alternatively, process with a stick blender in the pan until smooth. Reheat the soup gently over medium heat. Season with salt and white pepper. Ladle the soup into warmed bowls and garnish with the sour cream, croutons and chives. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

PUREE DE POIREAUX (LEEKS PUREE)

Steps:

• Trim off the stem end of each leek. Cut off enough of the green part to leave a main section of about seven inches. Split the leeks lengthwise in half. Cut the split leeks crosswise into one-and-one half-inch lengths. There should be about eight cups loosely packed. Rinse thoroughly in cold water. Drain.
• Put the leeks in a saucepan or kettle and add enough water to cover. Bring to the boil and simmer, uncovered, about 15 minutes or until tender. Drain thoroughly.
• Put the leeks into the container of a food processor or blender and puree until fine. Scrape the mixture into a saucepan and start beating. Add the salt and pepper to taste, butter and nutmeg. Stir until piping hot. Serve.

BROCCOLI PUREE

Steps:

• Trim and cut the broccoli into florets. If the stems are large, trim and cut them into large bite-size pieces. There should be about 6 cups.
• Put the broccoli pieces in a saucepan with water to cover and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer about 10 minutes or until tender but not mushy. Drain.
• Put the broccoli in a food processor and puree it. Or, preferably, put it in a conical food mill and press it through into a saucepan.
• Heat the puree gently while stirring in the butter, garlic, salt, pepper, nutmeg and cheese. When piping hot serve immediately.