Baked Potato Soup Chunky Good Recipe 455

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and cut into 1" cubes.
• Bring water to a boil in large saucepan and add potatoes.
• Cook until tender and drain reserving liquid.
• Set aside potatoes and measure 1 cup cooking liquid (adding water if necessary) and set aside.
• Peel and finely chop onion and chives.
• Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat.
• Add onions and chives to saucepan and cook, stirring frequently until tender, but not brown.
• Add flour to saucepan.
• Season with red pepper and black pepper to taste.
• Cook 3 to 4 minutes.
• Gradually add potatoes, reserved 1 cup cooking liquid, milk/cream, and sugar to onion/chive mixture in saucepan.
• Stir well and add cheese and bacon.
• Simmer on low heat for 30 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Serve with fresh chives, cheese, and bacon.

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion, scallion whites and a big pinch of salt to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft but not browned, about 8 minutes. Add the flour, celery seeds and white pepper; stir until combined.
• Add the potatoes, 3 1/2 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt to the pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the potatoes are tender but not falling apart, about 10 minutes.
• Remove the pot from the heat and transfer 1/2 cup of the potatoes to a blender. Add the half-and-half, cream cheese and parmesan and blend until very smooth. Gently stir the mixture into the pot along with the scallion greens, hot sauce and half of the bacon. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat; season with salt.
• Divide the soup among bowls. Top with cheddar cheese, the remaining bacon and chives.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375. Place bacon on a lined baking sheet and cook for 15 minutes or until crisp and most fat is rendered. Pour off the fat and reserve. Crumble bacon and set aside.
• Pierce potatoes with a fork and microwave on high until they are soft and baked through, about 8-10 minutes depending on your microwave. Set aside to cool, then peel and chop. I sometimes leave half with peel, half without for more texture.
• In a large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat, melt butter and stir in 2 tablespoons of reserved bacon fat. Saute onions and garlic in the butter until softened, about 6-7 minutes.
• Sprinkle flour over onions and stir into a paste (roux). Cook for 2-3 minutes to remove raw flour taste, then whisk in chicken stock slowly, then milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
• When thick and bubbling, add salt and peppers, and then the cream cheese. Using a potato masher, mash cheese to melt and remove lumps.
• Add potatoes and use masher to create your desired texture. We like a thick soup with plenty of lumps of potato left. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes to incorporate flavors. Add more seasoning salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve topped with reserved bacon bits, cheese, sour cream and chopped green onions. Enjoy!

Steps:

• In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon (if using) until crisp, 12 to 13 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper-towel lined plate or cutting board. Return the pot with just 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat to the stove. (If there's not enough fat, supplement with butter to total 3 tablespoons.) If making the soup vegetarian, melt butter in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
• Over medium-low heat, sauté the white parts of the scallions and the garlic until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently and adjusting the heat as necessary to avoid burning the garlic. Add the potatoes, milk and 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat (resist the urge to heat it faster as this can lead to curdling). Once at a boil, lower the heat and simmer covered until the potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• As soup simmers, prepare the potato skins: Warm the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Working in batches if needed, add the potato peels in a single layer and cook, flipping once, until crisp and golden-brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate or cutting board, then sprinkle with salt, pepper, cayenne and garlic powder. Crumble and set aside.
• Once the potatoes are tender, take the pot off the heat, and purée the mixture with an immersion blender if you'd like a smooth soup. (Mash with a potato masher if you'd like a chunkier soup.) Stir in the sour cream and cheese until combined, then season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with crumbled bacon, more sour cream and Cheddar and the green parts of the scallions. Top with potato peels (eat any extra as chips, dipped in ketchup and mustard).