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Potato Leek Soup

Classic French potato leek soup inspired by Julia Child with potatoes, leeks, chicken stock and a touch of cream, puréed through a food mill for best texture.

Soup in bowl with snipped chives.

A few weeks ago, out to lunch with Meathead, I had a cup of potato leek soup that was so good in it's simplicity.  I've never really thought about making it at home, but I've been craving it ever since.

Potato leek soup in pot garnished with chives

So, out came my Julia Child's cookbook for inspiration and to see how to make Potage Parmentier, and along with a little research, I made the most delicious Potato Leek Soup at home. It's now part of my winter soup rotation, along with Sweet-and-Sour Beef Cabbage Soup and Turkey Noodle Soup.

SIMPLE INGREDIENTS FOR POTATO LEEK SOUP

Ingredients photo displayed on board.

It's potatoes and leeks, guys.  That's pretty much it.  Almost.

  • russet potatoes
  • leeks
  • butter
  • bay leaf
  • homemade chicken stock
  • heavy cream
  • snipped chives for serving

Some recipes say simmer in water, some say chicken stock.  Some add cream, some do not.  I chose to make mine with homemade chicken stock.  I almost always have some in my freezer and I really, really like it in soups ~ it just adds depth of flavor.  That said, many soups can be made with just water for the liquid, I get that and have done that.  But for this soup, the chicken stock adds needed something-something to the otherwise rather bland potatoes, producing a nice flavor profile with the leeks.

As far as cream, a little goes a long way in this soup.  I whisked in a few tablespoons to finish it off.  I really don't think you need a lot of cream, but certainly some to gild the lily.  I've also read about adding some buttermilk to the finished soup for added brightness and tang, I may try next time and see if I like that.  But for now, just a little cream will suffice.

Soup in serving bowl with chives.

A FOOD MILL IS THE KEY FOR IDEAL TEXTURE

The key to this soup's light texture is the use of a food mill, instead of a blender or food processor.  Running the potatoes through a food mill or ricer will keep the soup from having a gluey consistency that often happens when starchy vegetables are puréed in a processor, blender or in a mixer.  I love my food mill for cooked vegetables and making purées, and don't forget to scrape the bottom of the disk when you're done!

Serve this soup with a sprinkling of snipped chives on top and, for me, a little hot sauce, too.  This Potato Leek Soup is so good on a cold winter day ~ and so easy.  Try it, you'll like it.  Promise.  Best ~ Kelly🍴🐦

Spoonful of potato leek soup over bowl garnished with chives.

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Spoonful of potato leek soup over bowl garnished with chives.

Potato Leek Soup

Classic Potato Leek Soup.  Simple and delicious with potatoes, leeks and chicken stock.  Run cooked potatoes through a food mill for the best, most ideal texture.
4.93 from 13 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Soup
Cuisine: French
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 197kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 2 large leeks, white and pale green parts, thoroughly rinsed, roughly chopped
  • 1 quart (4 cups) homemade chicken stock or use low-sodium, good tasting, store-bought
  • 2 russet potatoes, peeled, cut into quarters ~ about ¾ - 1 pound
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper
  • 4 tablespoon heavy cream
  • Snipped chives, for serving
  • Optional: hot sauce, for serving

Instructions

  • Melt butter in large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.  Add leeks and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until softened but not browned, about 10 to 12 minutes.
  • Add chicken stock, potatoes and bay leaf to pot.  Season lightly with salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil, cover, turn down heat and simmer until potatoes are very tender, about another 15 minutes.
  • Remove potatoes to bowl and set aside.  Discard bay leaf and transfer soup mixture to blender (or food processor, in batches) and carefully blend until mixture is completely smooth.  Return soup mixture to clean soup pot.
  • Run potatoes through food mill directly into the pot of soup (or into a bowl and then transfer to soup pot) and combine well.  Over medium heat, whisk in heavy cream and bring soup to a simmer, whisking frequently.  Taste for salt and pepper and serve, sprinkled with snipped chives and hot sauce.

Recipe Notes

This soup is really more of a vegetable purée, and is on the thicker side.  If it's too thick for your liking, add a little more chicken stock to thin the consistency a little bit.

Nutrition

Calories: 197kcal Carbohydrates: 22g Protein: 6g Fat: 9g Saturated Fat: 5g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 26mg Sodium: 239mg Potassium: 529mg Fiber: 2g Sugar: 4g Vitamin A: 765IU Vitamin C: 18mg Calcium: 39mg Iron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe? Please comment, rate it and share! And mention me on Instagram @thehungrybluebird or tag #thehungrybluebird so I can see!
 

*Inspired by and adapted from Julia Child and Serious Eats

 

4.93 from 13 votes (5 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




Heather

Thursday 8th of June 2023

Love it but the potatoes were a problem as I live in Austria and they are different here!

James (Jim) Tucker

Friday 11th of February 2022

Excellent, I add a few extras

Erich

Tuesday 4th of February 2020

Great Recipe, made some modifications for our main course soup. Followed your ideas to cook and clean leeks, cut potatoes into 1/4 dice and cooked for about 10 minutes separately. When I put leeks into food processor, I reserved about 1/2 cup of the potatoes. We added one Boars Head polish sausage (no nitrites, no nitrates). Cooked sausage separately in water to help reduce fat, then sliced into 1/4 dice when cool enough to handle. All added to soup pot and cooked until it was desired thickness. The leek potato soup with rolls and side salad is a full meal for a cold evening, yes it does get cool, even in San Diego.

Kelly

Friday 28th of February 2020

Sounds delicious!

Z

Friday 15th of November 2019

Can you use an immersion blender and get similar results?

Kelly

Friday 29th of November 2019

You could try, just don't overdo do it and you should get a similar result.

Barb

Sunday 3rd of November 2019

So simple, so delicious; definitely making again! MMm suggestion of nutmeg sounds interesting too. Thank you

Kelly

Saturday 9th of November 2019

I love this soup, thanks for letting me know you did, too!