This potato leek soup may look familiar, but I’ve refined my technique to ensure an even creamier, more luxurious result. In the past, I pureed the entire soup, but after elevating my cooking methods, I now mash the potatoes separately using a ricer, avoiding the dreaded gluey texture. The remaining ingredients are pureed for a smooth base, while the riced potatoes add the perfect velvety texture. The result is a comforting, flavorful bowl of soup with the perfect balance of texture and flavor—never gummy, always silky.
This approach allows for an elevated yet comforting version of the classic potato leek soup. Perfect for any season!
Potato Leek Soup (Potage Parmentier)
Ingredients
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 TBSP oil
3-4 large leeks, white and light green parts only, roughly chopped (about 5 cups)
3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
2 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch pieces
5 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
3 sprigs fresh thyme, or 1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
¼ cup coffee cream (10% cream)
Chives or other fresh herbs, finely chopped, for garnish
1 TBSP lemon juice, totally optional
Directions
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add leeks, cooking until soft, about 10 minutes, ensuring they don't brown. Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
- Add potatoes, broth, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover, then simmer for about 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are soft.
- Remove thyme and bay leaves. Pass the potatoes through a ricer, and purée the rest of the soup using an immersion blender or standard blender. If you don't have a ricer, just mash them with a potato masher. Also, consider leaving some potatoes chunky and only mashing half of the potatoes for more texture.
- Return the riced potatoes to the pot, stir in the coffee cream, and simmer gently.
- Adjust consistency, if necessary, with more broth. Adjust seasoning if necessary and garnish with chopped chives. Sometimes I like to add some lemon juice for extra brightness (but not always!)
