Potato Leek Cream Soup (Printable)

Smooth, comforting blend of tender potatoes and leeks in a creamy broth.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 3 medium leeks (white and light green parts only), cleaned and sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
04 - 3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced (approximately 1.3 lbs)
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Liquids

06 - 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
07 - 1 cup whole milk or heavy cream
08 - 1 bay leaf

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
10 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)

→ Garnish

12 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or parsley
13 - Drizzle of olive oil or swirl of cream (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Slice leeks lengthwise, then into thin half-moons. Rinse thoroughly under cold running water to remove any grit and sediment.
02 - In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add leeks and onion, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, approximately 7 minutes.
03 - Add minced garlic to the pot and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Stir in diced potatoes, bay leaf, and vegetable broth. Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 20 to 25 minutes until potatoes are very tender.
05 - Remove the bay leaf. Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, carefully transfer soup in batches to a blender, purée until smooth, then return to the pot.
06 - Stir in milk or cream. Heat gently until warmed through without boiling. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg if desired. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh chives or parsley and a swirl of cream or olive oil if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The velvety texture develops without any fancy techniques just humble ingredients working their magic together like old friends reuniting.
  • Its incredibly forgiving if you lose track of time while cooking youll find the flavor only deepens rather than diminishes.
02 -
  • Never rush the leek and onion cooking stage I once tried to speed this up and ended up with a harsh rather than sweet foundation flavor.
  • Adding cold dairy to hot soup can cause curdling so either warm your milk slightly or add it gradually while stirring constantly.
03 -
  • Save the dark green parts of the leeks to make vegetable stock they may be too tough for the soup but are packed with flavor for future cooking projects.
  • A splash of white wine added just after sautéing the vegetables and cooked until evaporated creates a foundation of acidity that balances the creaminess in a way salt alone cannot achieve.
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