Creamy Leek Soup With Bacon And Shallots Recipes

Steps:

• Wash sliced leeks in a large bowl of cold water, agitating them, then lift out and drain well in a colander.
• Cook leeks, onion, carrot, celery, salt, and pepper in 4 tablespoons butter in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes. Peel potato and cut into 1/2-inch cubes, then add to onion mixture along with wine, stock, water, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in parsley and simmer soup, uncovered, 5 minutes. Discard bay leaf and keep soup at a bare simmer.
• Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a 1-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, then add flour and cook roux, whisking, until golden, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add 2 cups simmering stock (from soup), whisking vigorously (mixture will be thick), then whisk mixture into remaining soup and return to a simmer, whisking.
• Blend soup in 4 batches in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids), about 1 minute per batch, transferring to a 3- to 4-quart saucepan. Reheat if necessary, then season with salt and pepper.
• Beat cream in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until it almost forms soft peaks. Serve soup topped with cream.

Steps:

• Cut dark green tops from leeks. Thinly slice 2 leeks. Set aside to use later as garnish. Coarsely chop remaining 5 leeks. Melt butter in heavy large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add coarsely chopped leeks, onion, 2 T sugar and thyme and saute until leeks begin to soften, about 8 min. Stir in 3 cans broth and potato. Cover and simmer until potato is tender, about 25 min. Add green onions and simmer 3 min. Using slotted spoon, transfer half of vegetables to processor and puree until smooth. Gradually add half of cooking liquid to puree in processor and blend well. Transfer puree to large saucepan. Repeat with remaining vegetables and cooking liquid. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. (can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate sliced leeks and soup separately). Preheat oven to 350 F. Saute bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 4 min. using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels and drain. Reserve bacon drippings. Arrange shallots on half of large baking sheet and sliced leeks on remaining half. Drizzle with bacon drippings. Sprinkle with pinch of sugar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Bake until vegetables are light golden, stirring occasionally, about 20 min. Cool on baking sheet. (can be made 4 hours ahead. Let stand at room temp.) Bring soup to simmer. Thin with more broth, if desired. Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with bacon and roasted shallots and leeks.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Make the croutons: Melt 1 tablespoon butter, then mix with the paprika in a bowl. Add the bread cubes and toss. Spread on a baking sheet and bake until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Discard all but about 1 tablespoon fat from the pan. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, then add the leeks and garlic; cover and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the broth, 2 cups water, the potatoes and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper; cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, partially covered, until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Puree half the soup in a blender (remove the filler cap to let steam escape), then return to the pot. Add the cream and bring to a simmer. Add the peas and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with the croutons, bacon and parsley.

Steps:

• In large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add leeks, garlic and shallot. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until leeks and shallot are softened but not browned. Add cauliflower, broth and herbes de Provence. Cover; cook until cauliflower is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in 10-inch skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels; set aside.
• Remove soup from heat; using blender or handheld immersion blender, puree soup until smooth. If using regular blender, return soup to saucepan. If using immersion blender, return saucepan to heat. Add salt, pepper and butter. Cook over low heat 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted and soup is hot.
• To serve, ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with bacon.

Steps:

• Heat a large saucepan, then fry the leeks and bacon over a medium heat for 5 mins, until the bacon is crisp and the leeks have started to soften. Pour in the stock and stir in the rosemary with some seasoning. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 5 mins.
• Tip in the pasta of your choice and continue to cook for about 10 mins until the pasta is 'al dente'. Serve with warm, toasted ciabatta.

Steps:

• Cut leeks into 1/4-in. slices. In a soup kettle or Dutch oven, saute leeks and garlic in butter until tender. Stir in the flour, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until bubbly. Gradually add broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes. , Remove from the heat; cool slightly. Process in batches in a blender until smooth; return to pan. Add milk and cream; heat through. Garnish with chives.

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large pan, then fry the bacon and onion, stirring until they start to turn golden. Tip in the leeks and potatoes, stir well, then cover and turn down the heat. Cook gently for 5 mins, shaking the pan every now and then to make sure that the mixture doesn't catch.
• Pour in the stock, season well and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 20 mins until the vegetables are soft. Leave to cool for a few mins, then blend in a food processor in batches until smooth. Return to the pan, pour in the cream and stir well. Taste and season if necessary. Serve scattered with tasty crisp bacon and eat with toasted or warm crusty bread on the side.

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry the bacon for 5 mins, then turn down the heat, add the white wine and simmer to a glaze. Add the double cream and reduce by half. Add the leeks and simmer for 10 mins, then stir in the thyme leaves, cheddar and season.