My dear sorority sister shared this festive holiday soup recipe with me. Vichyssoise is usually served cold but this is terrific served hot, cold or at room temperature. It is a perfect first course for your next holiday gathering. You can have a pot simmering on the stove and your guests will be coming back for more. Thank you Teddy for sharing this yumminess! It is my new favorite!
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Makes approximately 10 cups (serves 6-8 in bowls or 20 in small appetizer glasses)
INGREDIENTS
- 6 Tbsp butter
- 3 medium leeks (white and light green parts only, thinly spliced crosswise)
- 2 medium onions, halved and thinly sliced
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 lb. Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1 inch cubes (the smaller the chop, the faster they cook)
- 5 cups water
- 3 cups of apple juice or cider
- 1/2 cup creme fraiche or sour cream
- 2 cup heavy whipping cream (unwhipped)
- Chopped fresh chives for garnish
- 1 apple, julienne (cut into sticks) for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
1 Melt butter: In a large (6-quart) pot or saucepan, heat the butter on medium high heat until it melts and foams up.
2 Sauté leeks and onions: Toss in the sliced leeks and onions and salt. Stir to coat with the butter. Cook for several minutes, reducing the heat to medium, until the leeks and onions are translucent and softened. Then stir in white wine and simmer until almost all liquid has evaporated.
3 Add potatoes, water and apple juice and bring to simmer. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Cook, partially covered for 30-40 minutes, until the potatoes are completely cooked through. Remove from heat.
4 Purée until smooth: Purée using an immersion blender or working in batches, blend in a regular blender. (Careful! With hot liquids only fill the blender 1/3 of the way full, and hold the blender top on with your hand while blending.) Purée until completely smooth, then return the soup to the pot.
5 Cool and stir in sour cream and heavy cream: Allow to cool a bit before stirring in the sour cream and heavy whipping cream. Simmer over moderate heat, stirring occasionally. Add more liquid if needed for desired thickness. Season with more salt if needed.
6 Serve warm in bowls or glasses: If serving warm, pour into bowls or glasses and garnish with chives and julienned apple on top. As an alternative, allow to cool completely and chill in the refrigerator if desired. The soup can be served just below room temperature (maybe 65°F or 18°C).
Enjoy!
PSST! You can swap out heavy whipping cream for 1/2 & 1/2 for a lighter version of this rich and delicious soup with no loss in taste.
Don't Forget the Secret Ingredient 