Olivier Baussans Chestnut Soup Food

CHESTNUT SOUP WITH BACON AND CHIVES

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook bacon until rendered and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Pour off all but 1 teaspoon of the fat. In the same saucepan, melt the butter, and add the carrot, celery, leek, and shallots. Season with salt and pepper. Cook over medium-low heat until softened and golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add broth and chestnuts to the saucepan. Bring to a simmer, partially cover, and cook until all the ingredients are soft, about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly, and purée in batches in a blender until very smooth. Return to saucepan, add the cream, and heat thoroughly, adding stock to thin if needed. (A spoon should not leave a trail on the surface of the soup.)
• Season with salt and pepper and ladle into warmed shallow bowls. Garnish with the reserved bacon, a dab of crème fraîche, chives, and a pinch of nutmeg.

CHESTNUT SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over low heat, then stir in celery, carrot, and onion. Cover surface of vegetables with a buttered round of wax paper or parchment (buttered side down) and cover pan with lid, then sweat vegetables 15 minutes (to soften).
• Wrap parsley, cloves, and bay leaf in cheesecloth and tie into a bundle with string to make a bouquet garni.
• Discard buttered paper from vegetables, then add broth and bouquet garni and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 20 minutes. Add chestnuts and Madeira and simmer, covered, 3 minutes.
• Purée soup in small batches (4 or 5) in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids), transferring to a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan. Stir in cream, pepper, and salt to taste and reheat soup over moderate heat, stirring occasionally.

OLIVIER BAUSSAN'S CHESTNUT SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut through one end of the shell of each chestnut. Place them on a sheet pan and roast until browned and the skins begin to pull back, 7 to 8 minutes. When cool, peel the nuts and discard the skins.
• Melt butter in a large soup pot. Add shallots and cook until soft. Add chestnuts, raise heat and cook, stirring, until chestnuts are golden. Stir in the porcini powder, vinegar and 4 cups of water. Add 2 cups of the cream and stir, scraping any residue from the bottom. Lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Bring the remaining cream to a boil and add the cardamom pods. Remove from the heat, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes. Strain and season with salt and pepper.
• Purée soup in a blender and stir in the truffle oil. Reheat the soup. (It should be warm, not piping hot.) Season with salt and pepper if necessary. Whip the infused cream until very frothy. Ladle soup into 8 small mugs and top with the frothy cream and a pinch more porcini powder, if desired.

CAULIFLOWER & CHESTNUT SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the onion. Cook over a gentle heat for 8-10 mins until the onion softens. Add the cauliflower, milk and stock. Bring to a simmer, cooking for 10-12 mins until the cauliflower is tender.
• Add the cream, season well and bring back to the boil. Take off the heat, throw in the chestnuts and blend with a hand blender until smooth. Taste and add more seasoning, if you like. To serve, top with shaved Parmesan, black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.