Parsley Soup With Chive Cream Food

PARSLEY SOUP WITH CHIVE CREAM

Steps:

• Remove and discard the darker green tops of the leeks.
• Slice the rest and wash well.
• Melt the butter in a large pot.
• Add half the parsley and the leeks and cook gently until soft.
• Add the potatoes and chicken stock before covering and simmering gently for 20 minutes.
• Add the reserved parsley leaves and simmer for two minutes, then liquidise in batches until smooth and return to a clean pan.
• Stir in half the cream and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• For the chive cream, lightly whip the remaining cream with a bit of salt and pepper so it thickens slightly but is still runny.
• Stir in most of the chopped chives.
• Ladle the soup into warmed bowls and swirl in some of the chive cream.
• Scatter over the remaining chives.

PARSNIP SOUP WITH PARSLEY CREAM

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a saucepan and fry the onion until soft but not coloured. Stir in the parsnips, bay leaves, milk and stock, bring to the boil and simmer gently until the parsnip is very soft. Remove the bay leaves and drain off, but reserve, the liquid. Whizz the parsnips in a blender, adding a little of the cooking liquid at a time until smooth. Keep adding liquid until you reach a lovely soup consistency that's not too thick.
• For the parsley purée and cream, blanch the parsley in boiling salted water for 30 secs, then refresh in ice water - this keeps the green colour. Repeat this twice. Bring the double cream to the boil. Squeeze out any water from the parsley, then whizz in a clean blender, slowly adding the hot cream until it's as smooth as you can get it. Cool. Fold a little of the parsley purée through the whipped cream until nice and green. Season and chill. Keep the remaining purée for serving.
• For the garnish, blanch the parsnip cubes in boiling water for 2 mins, then drain. Heat the olive oil in a pan, and fry the cubes until golden. Keep warm.
• To serve, reheat the parsnip soup and season to taste. Place a little of the parsley purée into each of 6 shallow soup bowls, followed by the soup, a spoonful of the parsley whipped cream and some fried parsnip cubes.

POTATO AND PARSLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Quarter the potatoes lengthwise and thinly slice. Chop the celery fine or, if using parsley root, grate.
• Melt the oil(or butter) in a soup pot and add the potatoes, celery, onion, and bay leaves.
• Cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Raise the heat, add the wine, and let it reduce until syrupy. Add 1 1/2 cups parsley, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and the water; bring to a boil.
• Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the potatoes have broken apart, about 30 minutes.
• Stir in the cream and remaining parsley and heat through.
• Taste and season with more salt if needed. Add the pepper. Remove the bay leaves and serve.
• Enjoy!
• Variations:.
• Roast 2 heads garlic(with skin left on) that have been rubbed with olive oil, covered with foil(and add a little water to the pan), in a 350*F. oven for 45 minutes. Remove skins and add with the onions and potatoes. You may run the soup through a food mill if desired.
• or.
• Boil 1 bunch greens(mustard greens are especially good) 10-15 minutes, drain, coarsely chop, and add to soup with 2-3 pinches of red pepper flakes. Serve with a few shavings of Parmesan cheese.