Irish-Style Potato Onion Soup

Submitted by Stephanie Z.

"From the About.com Home Cooking blog: " This soup can also be made with the chopped white part of 5 or 6 large leeks instead of onions. Additional garnishes you can use instead of bacon are chopped prawns or a small dice of lobster.""

 

• Ready In: 1hr 35mins
• Ingredients: 14
• Serves: 10

ingredients

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and sliced
• 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and sliced
• 3 cups milk
• 5 1⁄2 cups chicken stock (or use canned)
• 1⁄4 cup chopped fresh chives
• 1⁄2 teaspoon celery seed
• 1⁄4 teaspoon dried thyme, whole
• 1 cup light cream
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup chopped fresh chives
• 6 slices lean bacon, crisply fried and chopped

directions

1. Heat a 6- to 8-quart stockpot, add the butter and onion, and cook gently. Do not let the onion brown. Add the peeled and sliced potatoes, milk, and chicken stock.
2. Add 1/4 cup chives, celery seeds, and thyme. Cover and cook gently for about an hour.
3. Prepare a roux: Melt the butter in a small saucepan and whisk in the flour. Let the flour and butter mixture (roux) bubble for 2 minutes on medium-low heat, stirring constantly.
4. Thicken the soup with the roux, whisking carefully to avoid lumps. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes and then puree the soup in a food processor or food blender.
5. Add the cream and gently reheat, but do not boil. Season with the salt and pepper. Serve with additional 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives and the crisply fried bacon as garnishes.

Reviews

[kitty.rock]

This was DELICIOUS soup! I admit though, I had to make substitutions as I was ill-prepared, thought I had all the ingredients, but did not. I used vegetable broth instead of chicken, and only had heavy cream instead of light cream. No celery seed, so I used celery salt, and just did have enough thyme for the recipe. Even with my substitutions, this was a wonderfully creamy, very flavorful soup ~ I sprinkled some cheese and garlic croutons on top instead of the bacon. Great recipe Poo ~ thanks for sharing. Made for your Week #3 Football Pool Win, October 2009!

 

[Lorene Deal]

only thing to say here is OUTSTANDING!!!!

 

[*Parsley*]

Silky texture and great taste! I think the celery seeds and thyme accented the potato flavor very nicely. I resisted my urge to add cheese and I'm glad. You can really enjoy the delicate potato flavor; no need for cheese. Mine thickened nicely... but it wasn't too thick. As I mentioned, the texture was "silky." The smokey flavor of the bacon garnish tops the soup off perfectly. Thanx for sharing this. It's a real keeper!

 

[Julie Bs Hive]

Wish I had a better review for you poo but the taste fell flat for me. The soup didn't really thicken even though I made a double roux for it. Less chicken stock might have given this a more potato-y flavor As it was I doubt I'll do this one again. Sorry. Made this for ZWT3