Serve this hearty chilled leek & potato soup on a warm summer night.
Vichyssoise – Chilled Leak & Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 large leeks, (green sections removed, white sections cut and washed)
- 32 oz chicken stock
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 4-5 Yukon gold potatoes, (washed, peeled, cubed)
- 8 oz heavy cream
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp sherry vinegar
- 3 Tbsp chives, (finely sliced)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Rinse and drain leeks multiple times they are dirty.
- Heat butter and olive oil in a soup pot.
- Cook leeks very slowly on low-medium heat for 35-40 minutes, or until leeks are completely tender and cooked down to a jam consistency.
- While cooking the leeks, add a splash of chicken stock if they get too dry.
- Add the chicken stock, bay leaves, fresh thyme, and cubed potatoes.
- When the potatoes are completely tender, remove the fresh thyme.
- Add sherry vinegar and season the soup to taste with salt & freshly ground pepper.
- Transfer the soup to a blender or use an immersion blender to puree the soup into a smooth and creamy consistency.
- When the soup has been blended completely, mix in the heavy cream.
- Taste the soup again with the heavy cream and adjust seasonings.
- If you prefer a thinner soup, add more chicken stock. If you prefer a richer soup, add more heavy cream.
- Allow the soup to cool in the fridge completely.
- When ready to serve, taste the soup when it is cold and make sure it has enough sherry vinegar and salt. Adjust if necessary.
- Serve the soup in chilled bowls, garnished with freshly sliced chives on top.
Notes
If you want the soup to have an ultra-smooth consistency, use a ladle to pass the pureed soup through a chinois or fine mesh strainer into a bowl. This step isn’t necessary, but contributes to a refined creaminess and smooth texture in the final product.
Serve this soup with an unoaked Chardonnay or a dry Riesling.