Take advantage of the variety of fresh vegetables available all year round and make some delicious soup. A tasty soup with a lovely aroma will whet your appetite and serve as a good start to any meal, or you can serve soup with whole-grain bread or rolls to make a satisfying snack.
Choose selections that complement each other. My choice of vegetables for the recipe below is leeks, potatoes, and onions. You can substitute the leeks with celery if you prefer; however, it is important to have both a strongly flavoured vegetable and a mild one—hence I include the potatoes.
This soup is made using a time-honoured method known as "sweating." "Sweating" seals in all the flavour and makes it unnecessary to add stock cubes or herbs; only a little salt and pepper is required, if desired.
Ingredients
- 1 large or 2 small leeks
- 2 medium-size potatoes
- 1 medium onion
- 60 ml (1/4 cup) butter
- 500 ml (2 cups) water
- 250 ml (1 cup) milk
- Salt and pepper if required
Method
Peel off the outer leaves of the leeks and wash the stems well, ensuring that any soil between the leaves is washed away. Cut into 5-cm (2-inch) lengths.
Wash and peel the potatoes and onion and dice into small pieces.
Have a fairly large saucepan ready. Put in the butter and melt over low heat. Add the potatoes, leeks, and onion. Replace the lid. Maintain a low heat setting and stir regularly. It is important not to allow the vegetables to cook, as that would remove the flavour. Instead, keep the heat low to seal in the flavour. This is the above-mentioned process of "sweating." Stir regularly and add a little salt and pepper. Continue for about 15 minutes.
Now add the water and raise the temperature to a simmering point for the next 15 minutes. Add the milk and once more bring to a simmering point. The vegetables should now be soft through. If not, simmer a little longer.
Next, put the mixture through a sieve or blender. Return to the saucepan and reheat. Put the soup into bowls, and add a dash of thick cream and perhaps sprinkle on some chopped chives.
You will find the flavour and texture of this soup delicious and appetizing. It is an excellent starter to any meal.
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