This is what the French do with the outer leaves of lettuce that are too tough for a salad. The soup is good hot or cold.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 leek, white and light green parts only, sliced and rinsed well
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ¼ to 1 ½ pounds (2 large) russet or Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
- 6 cups chicken stock, vegetable stock, or water
- A bouquet garni made with a cleaned leek green, a bay leaf and a few sprigs each parsley and thyme, tied together
- Salt to taste
- 5 ounces lettuce leaves, washed and coarsely chopped (4 cups)
- Freshly ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley or chives for garnish
- Nutritional Information
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)
306 calories; 7 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 46 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 9 grams sugars; 13 grams protein; 10 milligrams cholesterol; 585 milligrams sodium
Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
Serves 4 to 6
Preparation
- Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy soup pot over medium heat and add the onion and leek. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and the garlic and cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the potatoes, stock or water, and bouquet garni, and bring to a simmer. Add salt to taste, cover and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes.
- Stir in the lettuce leaves and continue to simmer for another 15 minutes. The potatoes should be thoroughly tender and falling apart.
- Using an immersion blender, or in a blender or food processor fitted with the steel blade (working in batches and covering the blender lid or food processor with a kitchen towel to prevent the hot soup from splashing), blend the soup until smooth. If you want a smoother, silkier texture, strain the soup through a medium strainer, pushing it through the strainer with a pestle, spatula, or the bowl of a ladle. Return the soup to the heat, add lots of freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt. , Heat through and serve, garnishing each bowl with chopped fresh parsley or chives.
- If serving cold, add a dollop of plain yogurt to the garnish.
1 hour 15 minutes
Dining and Cooking