All content copyright Katrina Hall 2008 through 2025

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

chilled vichyssoise: leek and potato soup on a sweltering day



110 degrees in the sun; that's what my thermometer says. It's so hot nipping outside to pick peas I could swear I got a sunburn in six minutes flat . Definitely a good day to make chilled leek and potato soup!
Soothing, rich, creamy, and cold, vichyssoise is the perfect lunch or dinner for those hot days when you'd rather just suck on popsicles, or drink sweet tea and lemonade.
This recipe uses more herbs than Julia Child's original recipe, but this is the way I've always made it. Thyme and dill have a special affinity for the mildness of leek and potato braised in butter that is always delicious. And today? I'm headed to a fiercely air-conditioned supermarket.
Makes about 5 servings:
1 T. unsalted butter
2 cups chopped white of leeks
1/1/2 cups diced white potatoes
2 cups light chicken stock
1 t. kosher salt
freshly ground pepper
1/2 t. thyme
1 t. minced fresh dill
3/4 cup whipping cream
Melt butter in saucepan, then add the leeks and braise on low, covered, for about 10 minutes. Remove cover and add the chicken stock and potatoes, salt, thyme, pepper, and dill. Cook for approximately 20 minutes on medium, or until potatoes are soft.
Remove from heat and, using a handheld immersion blender, puree the soup, then stir in the cream. Allow at least an hour in the fridge and serve chilled.
Stay cool!
~
You might also enjoy this cooling dessert that whips up in minutes:
Fresh fruits with creme patissiere ( French vanilla suace)

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is the perfect soup for a hot day. I like to make and eat it as well. Thanks for the reminder.

Martha said...

I love cold soups on a warm day -- and of course vichyssoise is the classic -- but there's also gazpacho -- corn soup, zucchini vichyssoise, tomato basil . . . . the list is endless -- it is raining here although muggy -- not a cold soup day nor a hot one either!

But when the sun comes out and temperature soars again . . . . this will definitely be on my menu!

katrina said...

Hi Kirsten! You said it right - there are just some sizzling days when this is the only soup that you feel like eating:)

katrina said...

Hi Martha! Mmmmmmmm,all your soups sound delicious, but for some reason, today was a vichyssoise day, no doubt about it! I'll have to try your tomato basil - I make one called Tuscan Tomato that's tangy and chunky ( and yum!) but it's always fun to try a new recipe froma terrific cook! Thanks!

Aly said...

This soup sounds perfect for beating (or tolerating) the heat wave we're having. And it would travel well for lunch at work, too. Sounds great.

katrina said...

Thanks, Allie! This heat wave just goes on and on , doesn't it? Massachusetts got rain, NH ( or at least our part of it) got a sprinkle. Awfully dry here....
Delighted you enjoyed the vichyssoise!

Anonymous said...

where di you get the bowls???? i know it is not about the bowls but dang i am in love withem!
wendy.burgess74@gmail.com

katrina said...

Another china lover! Wendy - I wish I could remember where I found these. They're made in Portugal and have the sweetest little top - perfect for , oh, whatever:) Cerutil Stoneware. I'm a nut about dishes and textiles and linens and.....well, pretty much anything French, Portuguese, or Belgian. Swedish. Happy to find another passionate bowl lover!

Anonymous said...

oh i love me some bowls, platters, tea pots, cups and saucers, plates, and well all of it!
i feel some quality time with ebay coming on later!;)
thank you for the info!
wendy

katrina said...

Happy hunting, Wendy - and there's something I never thought of! I'll have to check ebay out:)

Cheryl Etu-Williams said...

Katrina!

I love your recipe's. Your so talented! i made the mushroom soup last week and the potato the week before. Thank you for sharing these recipe's with us! I hope your cozy in this wintery weather. LOVE LOVE to you!! Cheryl

katrina said...

Hi Cheryl! How lovely to hear from you! Wow - I'm delighted you liked the soups, and I feel honored, since I know you and Caleb are good cooks. The one good thing about colder weather is we all get back to comforting soup. Merci a bunch!

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