Greetings and welcome to Week 10! I would be saying I’m tired of eggplants and cucumbers, but they’re all so delicious! We’ve been eating eggplant parmigiana, babaganouj, tzatziki and cucumber salad at our house and loving it all.
We are getting more leeks this week, and that makes me think of one of my favorite soups, a cold potato and leek soup called Vichyssoise (pronounced VEE-she-swaz). So wonderful on a hot summer day and very quick and easy! It can, of course, also be eaten hot but, for this time of year, cold is the way to go.
VICHYSSOISE
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3 TBS butter
3 cups leeks, sliced and washed
4 cups potatoes, peeled and diced
Salt and pepper
8 cups water
2 cups heavy cream
1. Melt the butter in a large pot. Add the leeks and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
2. Add the potatoes and season with the salt and pepper.
3. Add water and bring to a simmer. Cook until the vegetables are tender.
4. Put 3/4 of the soup into a blender and puree, then return it to the pot and stir in the cream.
If you are serving the soup cold, let it cool and then refrigerate it until serving time. Give it a quick stir and then serve.
NOTE: Leeks are very sandy. Cut them into rings and float them in a lukewarm sinkful or bowl full of water. The sand and grit will drop to the bottom and you can scoop out the clean leeks.
Have a delicious week, everyone.
Best,
Judi