Potato leek is a traditional Jewish soup with a spicy taste that dates back to the middle ages. It’s healthy as well as delicious. The ingredients are very simple: potatoes, salt, olive oil, and herbs such as Rosemary, thyme, garlic, etc.
In a saucepan, combine three cups of reduced fat milk, one tablespoon of kosher salt, and two tablespoons unsalted butter. Bring to a gentle boil, then lower the heat to simmer for about twelve minutes. While simmering, gently press the leeks out of the potatoes.
Drain the potatoes and rinse them thoroughly. Then, cut the potato into chunks. Add half a cup of the soup mix and half a cup of the reduced fat milk. Bring the soup to a boil again, reducing the heat as needed. Cover and cook until the potatoes are soft.
Place a lid on a sauce pan and pour in about one tablespoon of the reduced fat milk mixture and one tablespoon of the kosher salt. Bring to a gentle boil and add the thyme, Rosemary, and garlic. Cover for about three minutes. While the potatoes are cooking, cut the remaining olive oil into slices about one inch thick. Lightly brush the slices over the potatoes.
Once the leeks have softened and the potatoes are completely covered in the liquid, place them on a large serving bowl. Add the remaining ingredients, stirring to mix them well. Cover the bowl and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for approximately ten minutes. At this point, if you have included the thyme and garlic, stir to combine.
At this point, your soup is ready to serve. Fill a fine-toothed comb with the soup and comb through all of the leaves. Season to taste and enjoy! Leeks are extremely pungent and you can determine how strong you would like the soup to be by adding more of the kosher salt or by adding the additional olive oil.
If you wish to include the thyme, it is best that you do so after the potatoes are partially cooked. Thyme can lend a bit of an onion flavor to the potatoes. It also has a strong flavor of its own. Thyme will be more available if you are able to harvest it early. harvesting the thyme a day or two ahead of time will allow enough time for it to seep into the potatoes and build up there.
You can top your potato and leek soup off with a little bit of croutons and lots of freshly chopped parsley. Parsley is very high in sulphur and can also help to ward off unwanted bacteria. With a little effort, you can create a delicious and nutritious soup that has lots of healthful benefits as well as being a very flavorful and attractive meal. The best part about it is that the great tastes of this soup are easily combined with the delightful flavors of a delicious crust of crouton and garlic bread.
Making potato and leek soup does not have to be difficult. All you really need are some fresh potatoes and leeks, some thyme and a few salt herbs. You can use your imagination when it comes to the other ingredients. Below are just a few ideas for incorporating leek and potato into your next meal.
As an appetizer to your main meal, roast some potatoes on the griddle. Then, add a couple of cups of chopped leeks, three to four tablespoons unsalted butter, half a cup of celery stalks, and a quarter teaspoon of dried thyme. Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer until leeks are soft. Let the soup simmer for approximately twenty minutes, stirring occasionally.
As the soul progresses, you will probably want to add additional items such as chopped apricots, peaches, or strawberries. At this point you can also add your favorite brands of hot sauce, chicken stock, or cream. When you are ready to serve it, simply add the cooked leeks to the pot and stir in a little salt and pepper to taste. Add a generous portion of your favorite brand of toothpaste and mix in well. You are now ready to enjoy a piping hot bowl of soup!
If you are not a big fan of the taste of leeks, potatoes can be substituted with sweet potatoes instead. Use a non-stick frying pan or spray with olive oil and brown the potatoes on all sides. Place over medium heat and cook until soft. Drain off any excess liquid and add in your desired amount of salt and pepper. Increase the heat to medium high and cook for about five minutes. Then add in your prepared ingredients and stir to mix.
