Fennel And Watercress Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the fennel, onions, and thyme and saute for 20 to 25 minutes, until the onions and fennel are very tender and caramelized. (You can add a little water if it starts to stick.) Deglaze the pan by adding the brandy; reduce the heat to medium and cook for 3 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan. Add the sherry and white wine and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Add the chicken stock, salt, and pepper and continue to cook, uncovered, for another 15 minutes. Add the Pernod and cook for 5 more minutes. Check for salt and pepper.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Ladle the soup into 6 to 8 ovenproof bowls and place 1 or 2 slices of French bread and a handful of Gruyère cheese on top of each bowl. Place the bowls on a baking sheet and slide them under the broiler for 3 minutes, or until the cheese is brown and bubbly, and serve.

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy saucepan.
• Add fennel and onion, cook over medium heat until soft but not brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add potatoes, stock and parsley, bay leaf, peppercorns and thyme enclosed in a small cheesecloth pouch.
• Simmer 30 minutes, then remove herb pouch.
• Pass soup through food mill or puree until smooth in a food processor or blender.
• Pour puree into a clean saucepan, bring back to boil and correct seasoning.
• Add cream and chopped parsley.
• Place bunch of watercress in boiling water for 3 to 5 seconds then plunge in cold water.
• Drain, cut leaves from stalks, chop roughly, and add to soup.
• Place soup in a heated tureen, garnish with additional chopped parsley, and serve.

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy saucepan. Add fennel and onion, cook over medium heat until soft but not brown, about 5 minutes. Add potatoes, stock and parsley, bay leaf, peppercorns and thyme enclosed in a small cheesecloth pouch. Simmer 30 minutes then remove. Pass soup through food mill or puree until smooth in a food processor or blender. Pour puree into a clean saucepan, bring back to boil and correct seasoning. Add cream to taste and chopped parsley. Place bunch of watercress in boiling water for 3 to 5 seconds then plunge in cold water. Drain cut leaves from stalks. Place soup in a heated tureen and serve. Makes four 1 1/2 cup servings.

Steps:

• Melt butter in large pot over medium heat. Add celery, onion, fennel, garlic and ginger. Cover pot. Cook until vegetables are almost tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Add broth and wine. Bring to boil. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and mix in watercress. Let stand 5 minutes. Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Transfer to large bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• Ladle soup into bowls. Top with dollop of yogurt, if desired.

Steps:

• Warm the oil in a soup pot.
• Add the leeks and saute.
• Add the fennel and potatoes and continue to saute.
• Add the stock and bring to a simmer.
• Cook until all the vegetables are completely softened.
• Add watercress, cooking it until it's wilted but still bright green.
• Use a handheld blender until smooth.
• Add the salt and white pepper.
• Enjoy!
• For Vegetarian use vegetable broth.