Caramelized Leek And Yukon Gold Bisque Food

CARAMELIZED LEEK AND YUKON GOLD BISQUE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300° F.
• Cut the top off garlic head and place in a small, ovenproof ramekin. Drizzle with a small amount of olive oil and cover ramekin loosely with foil. Bake for 1 hour or until garlic is very soft.
• Meanwhile, in a heavy pot, melt butter over medium heat and cook leeks with herbes de Provence for 12 to 15 minutes, or until leeks are soft and golden. Pour wine into the pot and reduce until most of the liquid is evaporated. Pour chicken or vegetable broth into the pot. Add diced potatoes and simmer for 30 minutes or until potatoes fall apart. Squeeze roasted garlic cloves into soup.
• Puree soup using an immersion blender, food processor or stand blender. Add crème fraîche and simmer for a few minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve with the Carrot-Horseradish Cream.

YUKON GOLD AND MELTED LEEK GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F In a large saute pan, melt the butter over medium heat until just foaming. Reduce heat to low and saute leeks until very soft, about 10 minutes.
• In a large gratin dish, alternate layers of potatoes, leeks, and cheese, seasoning each layer with salt and pepper.
• Finish with a final sprinkling of cheese. Pour the cream over top and cover lightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 30 to 40 minutes, or until bubbling and brown on top. Let cool slightly.

LEEK ONION BISQUE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large soup pot and saute the chopped leeks, celery, onion, and garlic in the butter until tender.
• Add the chicken broth, apple juice, salt and white pepper.
• Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, blend using an immersion blender/blender/food processor.
• Add the cream cheese and heavy cream and blend thoroughly.
• Bring back to a light simmer before serving.

LEEK AND MUSHROOM BISQUE

Steps:

• Slice the white part of the leeks into 1/4" slices.
• Separate the slices into rings, and rinse to remove all grit.
• Wash the green parts of the leeks well and cut them into halves.
• (I find that leeks tend to be a bit sandy) Heat the oil in a soup pot.
• Add the white parts of the leeks and saute over moderate heat until they are limp.
• Add the water and then the tomato puree.
• Bring to a simmer, then lower the heat until the liquid is very gently simmering.
• Slowly sprinkle in the cream of wheat, stirring it in as you do.
• Add the green parts of the leeks, then mushrooms, and the seasoning mix.
• Cover and simmer gently for 35 minutes.
• Remove the green parts of the leeks and discard.
• Stir in enough milk or soy to give slightly thick consistency, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Simmer for another 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and let the soup stand for about 1 hour.
• Heat through as needed then adjust the consistency with more milk or soy if necessary, and correct the seasonings.