Leek and Potato Soup with Crusty Bread
Why this recipe works
- Gentle savoury base: Cooking the leeks slowly in butter softens their sharpness and gives the soup a mellow, rounded flavour.
- Naturally smooth body: Yukon Gold potatoes break down well when simmered, helping the soup blend into a velvety texture before the cream is added.
- Straightforward method: The recipe follows a simple cook, simmer and blend sequence, making it easy to manage without specialist techniques.
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Ingredient notes
- Clean the leeks well: Leeks often hold grit between their layers, so rinse the sliced pieces thoroughly before cooking.
- Use a creamy potato: Yukon Gold potatoes give the soup a naturally smooth, buttery body without making it gluey.
- Remove the bay leaves: Take out the bay leaves before blending so the soup stays smooth and free of tough fragments.
Texture tips
- Blend while hot: Blending the soup while it is still hot helps the potatoes and leeks emulsify into a smoother finish.
- Warm gently after adding cream: Keep the heat low once the double cream is stirred in to preserve a silky texture.
- Adjust the consistency: If the soup thickens after standing, loosen it with a little extra stock while reheating.
Make-ahead tips
- Make ahead: The soup can be cooked in advance, cooled quickly and kept covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze in portions: Freeze the cooled soup in individual portions for easier defrosting and reheating.
- Reheat gently: Warm the soup over a low heat, stirring often, until piping hot throughout; avoid boiling after reheating.
Serving ideas
- Serve with crusty bread: A crisp white loaf or baguette works well for dipping into the creamy soup.
- Finish simply: Fresh parsley and black pepper add colour and a clean, savoury lift without overpowering the leeks.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Trim the leeks, then slice them and rinse well to remove any grit. Peel the potatoes and cut into roughly 2 cm chunks. Pick the parsley leaves and finely chop them.
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the leeks and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until softened but not browned.
- Add the potatoes, bay leaves and vegetable stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 15 to 18 minutes, until the potatoes are very tender.
- Remove and discard the bay leaves. Blend the soup until completely smooth, then return to a low heat. Stir in the double cream and warm gently for 2 to 3 minutes, without boiling.
- Season with black pepper, then ladle into bowls and scatter over the parsley. Serve hot with slices of crusty bread.
Recipe notes
Tips
- For the smoothest texture, blend while the soup is hot, but keep the blender head fully submerged to avoid splashes.
- After adding the double cream, keep the heat low and do not let the soup boil, or it can split.
- If serving to anyone who is pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised, ensure the soup is heated until piping hot throughout.
Substitutions
- Replace Double cream with Cooking cream for a lighter finish.
- Replace Unsalted butter with Olive oil for a dairy-free base (the soup will no longer be creamy unless you also swap the Double cream).
- Replace Crusty white bread with Baguette for a similarly crisp side.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 3 days
- Cool the soup quickly, cover and refrigerate. Reheat gently in a saucepan over a low heat until piping hot, stirring often; avoid boiling once reheated. Freeze in portions for up to 3 months and defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.
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Recipe overview
- Servings: 4 servings
- Total time: 40min (15min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: British
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Allergens:
Gluten Milk Wheat
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