Cheddar and Beer Soup with Spicy Popcorn Garnish

Emeril Lagasse

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2005

Show: Emeril LiveEpisode: Great American Cheeses

Picture of Cheddar and Beer Soup with Spicy Popcorn Garnish Recipe Photo: Cheddar and Beer Soup with Spicy Popcorn Garnish Recipe
Rated 4 stars out of 5
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  • Read 4 Reviews
Total Time:
1 hr 55 min
Prep
20 min
Cook
1 hr 35 min
Yield:
8 servings
Level:
Intermediate
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Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound kielbasa sausage, finely chopped or processed until crumbly
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups chopped yellow onions
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 8 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 6 cups chicken stock
  • 2 cups lager beer, preferably amber
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped thyme
  • 3 cups grated Cheddar (about 12 ounces)
  • Spicy Popcorn, for garnish, recipe follows
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives, for garnish

Directions

Cook the kielbasa in the olive oil in a large, heavy soup pot over high heat until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the onions, salt, pepper, and bay leaves and cook, stirring, until the onions are slightly caramelized, 12 to 15 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the stock and the beer. Add the thyme and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Add the cheese a little at a time, stirring until nearly completely melted after each addition. Remove from the heat, taste, and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Garnish each serving of the soup with a handful of the popcorn and minced fresh chives.

Spicy Popcorn:

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/3 cup white popping corn
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon Essence, recipe follows
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan

For the popcorn: In a large, partially covered saucepan heat olive oil and 1 piece of popping corn until hot enough to make the corn pop. Add the remaining popping corn and cook partially covered, shaking, until all corn is popped. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients until evenly coated.

Emeril's ESSENCE Creole Seasoning (also referred to as Bayou Blast):

  • 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
  • 2 tablespoons salt
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Yield: 2/3 cup

Recipe from “New New Orleans Cooking”, by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, published by William and Morrow, 1993.

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 4 reviews

  • on March 27, 2008

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    I made this soup without knowing what beer cheese soup tasted like. It is fantastic! I used low sodium chicken stock and added no salt. Also turned the heat way down from what he suggested for cooking the meat. I will definitely make this recipe again.

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  • on November 01, 2007

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    very good - not too heavy!

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on July 01, 2007

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    The soup seemed to have a weird texture to most and the flavor seemed awefully salty.

    I added some bigger bite-size pieces of the sausage into the soup at the end which people enjoyed.

    I didn't love this soup and I probably wouldn't make it again.

    people found this review Helpful.
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