kitchenelf
Chef Extraordinaire
Basic Cream Soup
Ingredients:
2 cups chicken broth, homemade or canned
(you can substitute vegetable broth or beef broth if it suits the recipe more)
1 cup finely cut vegetable (see below)
1 very small onion, minced or processed fine in chopper
1 celery rib, minced or processed fine in chopper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
salt, pepper to taste
1 cup cream, half and half or whole milk
1-2 tsp. arrowroot,
OR 2 tablespoon each flour and butter (see directions)
Place the broth into a pan, add the cut vegetables and simmer until they are tender. While they are cooking, sauté the onion and celery in a small amount of butter until it is lightly browned. Add the onion, celery and chopped fresh parsley to the vegetables as they finish cooking. Drain the vegetable mixture, reserving the liquid. Puree the vegetables in a blender or food processor and return to the broth. Taste for seasoning. Add more salt or pepper if needed. Add the cream or milk over a very low heat, and choose your thickening option.
Thickening Options:
Arrowroot powder: Mix the arrowroot powder with a small amount of milk and add to the soup.
Flour and butter: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and add the flour, stirring until the mixture becomes smooth - for about 3 minutes - to remove the flour taste. Slowly stir into the soup whisking constantly.
After adding your choice of thickening, heat the soup slowly until it comes to a boil and thickens. Garnish with chopped chives, a dash of paprika, or shredded cheese.
For a thicker cream soup cook 3 cups of the veggie of choice - puree 2 cups and add the last cup in chunks.
Vegetable Options
The following vegetables can be used for cream soups. Choose one cup for the recipe above.
Asparagus
carrots
cauliflower
broccoli
1/2 cup each of broccoli and cauliflower
fresh peas
1/2 cup potatoes and 1/2 cup leeks (wash well!)
fresh spinach
Corn: Scrape corn off cobs, steam or boil lightly and add to your cream soup WITHOUT pureeing.
Mushrooms: Slice about a 1/2 pound and sauté in 3 tablespoons butter until soft. As with corn, add without pureeing.
More Tips
The basic soup of puree and stock may be frozen, defrosted and then the milk and thickening added as the recipe calls for.
The cream soup variations can be served hot in the winter with hearty croutons and crusty bread. In the summer you can take advantage of the vegetables and herbs in season. Throw in a springs of basil, thyme or oregano when pureeing.
Ingredients:
2 cups chicken broth, homemade or canned
(you can substitute vegetable broth or beef broth if it suits the recipe more)
1 cup finely cut vegetable (see below)
1 very small onion, minced or processed fine in chopper
1 celery rib, minced or processed fine in chopper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
salt, pepper to taste
1 cup cream, half and half or whole milk
1-2 tsp. arrowroot,
OR 2 tablespoon each flour and butter (see directions)
Place the broth into a pan, add the cut vegetables and simmer until they are tender. While they are cooking, sauté the onion and celery in a small amount of butter until it is lightly browned. Add the onion, celery and chopped fresh parsley to the vegetables as they finish cooking. Drain the vegetable mixture, reserving the liquid. Puree the vegetables in a blender or food processor and return to the broth. Taste for seasoning. Add more salt or pepper if needed. Add the cream or milk over a very low heat, and choose your thickening option.
Thickening Options:
Arrowroot powder: Mix the arrowroot powder with a small amount of milk and add to the soup.
Flour and butter: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and add the flour, stirring until the mixture becomes smooth - for about 3 minutes - to remove the flour taste. Slowly stir into the soup whisking constantly.
After adding your choice of thickening, heat the soup slowly until it comes to a boil and thickens. Garnish with chopped chives, a dash of paprika, or shredded cheese.
For a thicker cream soup cook 3 cups of the veggie of choice - puree 2 cups and add the last cup in chunks.
Vegetable Options
The following vegetables can be used for cream soups. Choose one cup for the recipe above.
Asparagus
carrots
cauliflower
broccoli
1/2 cup each of broccoli and cauliflower
fresh peas
1/2 cup potatoes and 1/2 cup leeks (wash well!)
fresh spinach
Corn: Scrape corn off cobs, steam or boil lightly and add to your cream soup WITHOUT pureeing.
Mushrooms: Slice about a 1/2 pound and sauté in 3 tablespoons butter until soft. As with corn, add without pureeing.
More Tips
The basic soup of puree and stock may be frozen, defrosted and then the milk and thickening added as the recipe calls for.
The cream soup variations can be served hot in the winter with hearty croutons and crusty bread. In the summer you can take advantage of the vegetables and herbs in season. Throw in a springs of basil, thyme or oregano when pureeing.
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