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Mary Anne here. We really are cooking in these parts, although you’d never know it by the pitifully few posts making it to our beloved blog. It seems that I’m long on inspiration but short on time when it comes to formally writing my latest creations. Hurricanes and snow storms only serve to slow my snail-like pace as we’ve been losing electricity and internet far too often.
This soup is worth the wait though, and if you’re looking for a memorable starter to your Thanksgiving feast – look no further! What was originally conceived as a veggie side dish served over quinoa, later transformed into a pureed potage of savory leeks coupled with crisp, sweet apples.
Always in search of nutritious meals for Mariel, I had created a sauté of the aforementioned fruit and veggie, garnished with a duxelles of mushrooms and crisped turkey bacon, then spooned over protein-perfect quinoa. We liked the flavors but…eh…the texture was lacking and it wasn’t particularly appealing to the eye.
It took me a split-second to realize that pureeing the leeks and apples with hot stock and adding sweet potatoes and St. Andre cheese would transform this into an autumnal star. It did all that and more since it grows more beautiful with age as the flavors deepen and the apples make their presence known. In fact, Mariel says it now makes her list of Top 10 Most Requested Turkey-Day Dishes! The photo just doesn’t do this brew justice.
Leek and Apple Soup
Serves 6 as an Entree
Makes 3 ½ quarts
Ingredients:
4 Tablespoons olive oil, divided – stock
2 Tablespoons butter – stock
3 Gala or sweet apples, peeled, cored, and cut into ½ inch dice – $1.89
1 sweet potato (about 1 lb.), peeled, diced and boiled until soft, about 10-12 minutes -$1.28
3 leeks (about 1¼ lbs.), split lengthwise; rinsed thoroughly and cut into ¼ inch slice – $3.49
1 Teaspoon nutmeg – stock
½ Teaspoon cinnamon
3 ½ oz. Shitake mushrooms, stems removed and sliced – $2.99
½ lb. baby Portobella or domestic mushrooms, sliced – $1.99
1 large shallot, finely diced –$0.48
¼ cup cooking sherry – stock
¼ lb. St. Andre or Brie cheese, rind removed and diced – $2.05
8 cups vegetable stock – $5.00
Grand Total Assuming a Well-Stocked Pantry: $19.17
Total Per Serving: $3.20
Directions:
1. Over medium-high flame, heat 2 Tablespoons of the olive oil and all of the butter in a large stock pot. Add the leeks, apples, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Sauté the mixture, stirring frequently until softened, about 12 to 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a separate pan, heat the remaining 2 Tablespoons of olive oil. Sauté the shallot and mushrooms over medium-high flame until golden, about 10 minutes.
3. Add the sherry and continue cooking until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from the flame and set aside, reserving for the garnish.
4. Add the boiled, diced sweet potatoes and vegetable stock to the leek and apple mixture. Bring to a boil and then reduce the flame. Simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a food processor. (You will need to do this in batches.) Puree until smooth.
6. Return the pureed soup to the stockpot. Add the cheese and reheat over medium-low flame until the cheese is melted and the soup is heated through. Serve hot, garnished with the sautéed mushroom and shallot mixture.
What a wonderful combo of flavors! I love soups with leeks in them — this is perfect!
Hurricanes? Snow? No Power or Internet? Oh you slackers for not doing a blog post!!
This sounds just perfect. We’re having a bit of a cold spell…I could eat soup for breakfast..wouldn’t this be perfect? I think so.
Looks wonderful Mary Anne. Glad to hear you are safe and sound, and still cooking! 🙂
Now this is an autumn soup! Love leeks and mushrooms, and the addition of the apples sounds wonderful!
Hi MaryAnn,
This sounds fabulous and I am going to try it tomorrow. If I make the soup the day before Thanksgiving, I’m assuming I should wait until just before serving to sauté the mushroom/shallot garnish. Or is there a way to prepare the in advance of the big day and save for use at serving?
Please excuse me if this is a hopelessly ignorant question. I’m just learning to cook now that I’m retired and I have a lot to learn. Your blog and writing and pictures and recipes thrill and inspire me — but often I have to scratch my head and say, “What does that mean?”
Thanks for this. Can’t wait.
Alice
Hi, Alice. You can certainly prepare the mushroom garnish ahead of time and then just do a quick saute to reheat it prior to garnishing. Part of our deal with creating recipes is to make each one as simple as possible without compromising the texture or flavor. I love making as much as possible ahead of time so that the actual moment of serving is stress-free and simply happy! This soup is more amazing over time, and if you triple the mushroom components, serve the leftover funghi over pasta. A family favorite here and lately a table-staple. And Happy Thanksgiving to you in your sunny side of the world! xo