Darina Allen's winter leek & potato soup

Darina Allen's winter leek & potato soup

Of the winter soups, leek and potato is one of the most comforting and familiar - and Darina Allen's makes the most of seasonal, local veg

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 6 - 8

Preparation and cooking times

Total time

Ready in 40-50 minutes

Vegetarian Freezable

Vegetarian

Veggie (if you use vegetable stock)

Method

  1. Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan. When it foams, add the potatoes, onion and leeks and toss them in the butter until they are well coated. Season well with salt and freshly ground pepper and toss again. Put a disc of greaseproof paper (called a cartouche by chefs) on top of the vegetables to keep in the steam), then cover the pan with its lid. Cook over a gentle heat for 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft but not coloured.
  2. Uncover the pan and discard the paper. Pour in 850ml/11⁄2 pints of the stock, bring to the boil and simmer until the vegetables are just cooked - about 5 minutes. Do not overcook or the soup will lose its fresh flavour.
  3. Purée in a blender until silky smooth, in batches if necessary, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Return the soup to a clean pan and stir in three quarters of the cream and all of the milk.
  4. To finish the soup, finely shred the white leek and gently cook it in the hot butter for a few minutes until it is softened but not coloured. Reheat the soup to a gentle simmer (add some extra stock at this point if the soup is too thick for your liking), then pour into warmed bowls. Drizzle the remaining cream over each serving, top with a little pile of buttered leeks and a scattering of chives and black pepper and serve at once.

Per serving for six

252 kcalories, protein 5g, carbohydrate 18g, fat 18 g, saturated fat 11g, fibre 3g, salt 0.7 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, March 2003.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • Binder photo Colette

    2007-11-15 18:10:49.986558

    Colette rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Great tasting and even survives being frozen. Will have it again and again.

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  • Binder photo marion

    2007-11-16 14:38:06.696996

    marion rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    i loved this soup so much i've made it many times,very,very tasty

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  • Binder photo shaunmc

    2007-12-08 15:37:47.869218

    shaunmc rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    my partner thought the soup i made her was fantastic. Just come home from work on a cold wet day and guess what she wants ???

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  • Binder photo Poldweia

    2007-12-09 12:25:34.468574

    Poldweia rated and commented on this recipe

    2 stars

    Too homogenised for me. I prefer the vegetables in small chunks as it gies it more texture. I won't use this recipe again.

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  • Binder photo Tara's GF

    2007-12-23 19:41:37.479485

    Tara's GF rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Tasty.Best ever soup I made.

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  • Binder photo Joanne

    2007-12-24 10:57:00.430962

    Joanne rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I have made this soup for a lot of people and everyone loves it...!

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  • Binder photo Indiana 77

    2008-01-01 19:35:07.167993

    Indiana 77 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I would recommend this soup to anyone. It is simply sublime - creamy, velvety... Would certainly prepare this again in future.

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  • Binder photo andrea

    2008-01-06 21:47:59.57721

    andrea rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    very rich - great winter warmer. Husband loved it - will be making it again soon

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  • Binder photo andrea

    2008-01-06 21:48:02.43359

    andrea commented on this recipe

    very rich - great winter warmer. Husband loved it - will be making it again soon

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  • Binder photo bristolpotgal

    2008-01-13 14:05:24.37335

    bristolpotgal rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Well worth the effort . Try it!

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  • Binder photo deborah

    2008-01-24 15:32:21.293292

    deborah rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Really delicious. Loved by the whole family. Will be making again.

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  • Binder photo Jeanette

    2008-02-03 14:08:54.541947

    Jeanette rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    very tasty ! a perfect starter to any winter dinner party, served with warm home made crusty bread, and very easy to prepare! i have also made this and served with a swirl of cream and a sprinkle of creamy stilton, yum

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  • Binder photo mgtclk

    2008-02-17 14:25:44.920322

    mgtclk rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    fantastic soup easy to make and yummy to eat

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  • Binder photo Natasha

    2008-04-10 11:10:34.857094

    Natasha commented on this recipe

    This is a tasty, creamy soup. My partner loved it after a cold day in work. I will definately be making this again !

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  • Binder photo Sarah Cooper

    2008-07-12 16:50:11.004194

    Sarah Cooper rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    lovely soup - very tasty and warming!

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  • Binder photo Emma

    2008-10-03 12:17:54.045112

    Emma rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Lovely - quick and easy to make and all the family loved it

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  • Binder photo T

    2008-10-08 11:15:02.491904

    T commented on this recipe

    Made this for a dinner party and it was loved by all!

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  • Binder photo Mrsnoonoo

    2008-10-18 22:26:56.980067

    Mrsnoonoo commented on this recipe

    Made it this evening, really lovely taste. So easy to make. Will be making again. I used semi skimmed milk, that was fine.

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  • Binder photo Mrsnoonoo

    2008-10-18 22:27:18.964606

    Mrsnoonoo rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • Binder photo Teresah

    2008-10-27 20:20:32.544013

    Teresah rated and commented on this recipe

    2 stars

    Have to agree with poldweia, needs some chunky bits in it

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 6 - 8

Preparation and cooking times

Total time

Ready in 40-50 minutes

Vegetarian Freezable

Vegetarian

Veggie (if you use vegetable stock)

Silky smooth and creamy

Ingredients

  • 50g butter
  • 450g potatoes , peeled and cut into 1cm pieces (try Golden Wonders or Kerr Pinks)
  • 1 small onion , cut the same size as the potatoes
  • 450g white parts of leeks , sliced (save the green tops for another soup or stock)
  • 850ml-1.2litres/1.5-2pts light chicken or vegetable stock
  • 142ml carton whipping cream
  • 125ml full-fat milk

TO FINISH

  • the white part of 1 leek
  • a small knob of butter
  • finely chopped chives
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Per serving for six

252 kcalories, protein 5g, carbohydrate 18g, fat 18 g, saturated fat 11g, fibre 3g, salt 0.7 g

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