Leek Potato Soup

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2005

Show: Good EatsEpisode: Sprung a Leek

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (127)

Cook Time:
1 hr 15 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
6 servings

Times:

Prep: 25 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 1 hr 15 min
Total:: 1 hr 40 min

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Ingredients

1 pound leeks, cleaned and dark green sections removed, approximately 4 to 5 medium
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Heavy pinch kosher salt, plus additional for seasoning
14 ounces, approximately 3 small, Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced small
1 quart vegetable broth
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1 tablespoon snipped chives

Directions

Chop the leeks into small pieces.

In a 6-quart saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the leeks and a heavy pinch of salt and sweat for 5 minutes. Decrease the heat to medium-low and cook until the leeks are tender, approximately 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the potatoes and the vegetable broth, increase the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and gently simmer until the potatoes are soft, approximately 45 minutes.

Turn off the heat and puree the mixture with an immersion blender until smooth. Stir in the heavy cream, buttermilk, and white pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Sprinkle with chives and serve immediately, or chill and serve cold.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Leek Potato Soup
Meg Glen Cove, NY 11-08-2009
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Yummy!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

The soup was delicious! I made a half recipe for my husband and me and it worked out perfect!
recipe Leek Potato Soup
Florencia Doral, FL 11-05-2009
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Great Homemade Feel!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This recipe was a hit. I tested it on my husband and a couple of friends we had over for dinner. They finished their bowls... and took what was left home. One suggestion I would make would be to reserve some of the cooked potato chunks on the side before pureeing. Then add back into the soup so that it has cooked potato pieces in the soup, gives it a little more texture then pureed soup. Hope you enjoy it too!Read more
recipe Leek Potato Soup
Lesleigh El Dorado Hills, CA 10-20-2009
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Disappointed
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

What a disappointment! I made this soup exactly as the recipe stated and after the rave reviews thought it would be great. ... The tang of the buttermilk was all you could taste, way too overpowering. The leeks and potatoes totally got lost. And all that cream--way too rich. Even my husband who likes everything didn't care for it. Not worth the calories. If you must make this, take the advice of the other readers--use bacon, way less cream (or half & half) & buttermilk, and it has to improve. Or, better yet, skip the buttermilk altogether. Read more
recipe Leek Potato Soup
Stephanie Roseville, MI 10-17-2009
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Very Yummy
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This was a very good soup. I added two dollops of sour cream to make it extra tangy. Next time I'll use bacon so I can saute... the leeks in the bacon fat and sprinkle bacon crumbles on top. This soup reminds me of an Irish Potato, so this soup will be over the top with bacon. Read more
recipe Leek Potato Soup
jeff topeka, KS 10-15-2009
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Family loves it
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

The only way I can really tell if everyone likes what I cook is how fast the leftovers disappear... these go fast, keeping in... mind i doubled the recipe. I made one change to the original regarding the fat used to sweat the leeks. Since both Jamie Oliver and AB proclaim leeks love bacon without knowing why... I figured, why not sweat the leeks in both butter and bacon fat. I had my meat guy cut 5 thick strips of bacon from the good stuff.. I then cut them into tiny strips and fried in the saucepan in a scant tsp of O oil until rubbery. Don't know about you, but bacon that still waves in the wind after cooked is better than something of the consistency of waving a baton. (just me) Then, removed the bacon and sweated/salted the leeks in the same amount of butter. (sorry, fat/salt is not an issue when taste is the destination to my journey) Rest of the recipe was as is... near-ambrosia was the result. Oh, and add the bacon back in at the end. (Like this wasn't assumed... enjoy the snacking in between!) And don't skimp on the fried leek rings AB used as the garnish at the end of the episode! Waaaaaay better than throwing saltines in your soup, and great on their own!Read more
recipe Leek Potato Soup
deborah knoxville, TN 10-10-2009
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Best potato soup ever!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I don't normally like potato soup without lots of cheese but this is THE best I have ever had. I didn't miss the cheese at... all. Great recipe!Read more