Description
Julia Child’s Creamy Potato Leek Soup is a comforting and velvety soup made with tender Yukon gold potatoes, sautéed leeks, and a touch of heavy cream. This classic French-inspired recipe delivers a smooth texture and rich flavor, perfect for a cozy meal or elegant starter.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 pound Yukon gold potatoes peeled and chopped into ½ inch cubes
- 2-3 medium leeks cut in half, sliced and cleaned well (use only light green and white parts)
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 5 cups vegetable stock
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Fresh thyme leaves for garnish
- Extra olive oil for garnish
- Additional black pepper and salt for garnish
Instructions
- Heat Butter and Oil: Bring a medium pot to medium heat and add butter and olive oil. Once melted, add the leeks and sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened but not caramelized.
- Add Potatoes and Seasoning: Add the cubed potatoes and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add Stock and Simmer: Add enough vegetable stock to completely cover the vegetables. Cover the pot with a lid, leaving a small opening, and bring to a strong simmer.
- Cook Until Tender: Cook the soup until the potatoes are incredibly tender, about 35 minutes.
- Blend Soup: Turn off the heat and use an immersion blender or high-powered blender to blend the soup until incredibly smooth and creamy.
- Add Cream: Pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine thoroughly.
- Serve and Garnish: Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves, a drizzle of olive oil, and additional black pepper and salt to taste.
Notes
- Use only the light green and white parts of the leek as the dark green parts are too fibrous and won’t blend well; save dark greens for homemade stock.
- Ensure there is enough stock to completely cover the vegetables; insufficient liquid can result in a gummy texture.
- Sauté leeks before adding other ingredients to bring out their natural sweetness.
- Blend the soup while it is still warm to achieve a smooth and creamy consistency.
- Leeks freeze well when sliced thin, washed, dried, and stored in resealable plastic bags for future use.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
