Stilton and Potato Soup With Cheese Croutons

French Tart's Note:

A delicious & extremely "grown up" soup recipe, and made with my favourite cheese, the King of Cheeses - Stilton! I make this every New Year's Eve and it is often on the menu throughout the rest of the year as well. It is excellent served as an elegant appetiser for Dinner Parties, as well as being wonderful for a romantic supper for two. This is a much-adapted recipe from Delia Smith's Christmas recipe book - one of my all time favourites. Be careful not to boil the soup when re-heating.

• Total Time: 1 hrs
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 5 ounces Stilton cheese, crumbled
• 1 ounce butter
• 1 onion, peeled & finely chopped
• 1 leek, cleaned and finely chopped
• 2 large potatoes, peeled & cut into small dice
• 1 tablespoon cornflour
• 6 fluid ounces dry cider
• 1 pint chicken stock or 1 pint vegetable stock
• 8 fluid ounces milk
• 2 tablespoons creme fraiche
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons chives, chopped finely

CROUTONS

• 4 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 8 ounces stale bread, cut into small cubes
• 4 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

1. Melt the butter in a thick-based saucepan, then add the prepared vegetables and some salt, and cook gently with the lid on for 5-10 minutes to draw out the juices.
2. stir in the cornflour to absorb the juices and, when smooth, gradually pour in the cider – still stirring.
3. Add the chicken or vegetable stock, cover the pan and simmer gently for 30 minutes.
4. Then add the milk and Stilton and re-heat, stirring, until the cheese has melted and the soup is just below boiling point.
5. Taste and season with salt and pepper, then stir in the creme fraiche.
6. At this stage you can purée the soup in a food processor or with a hand held blender or, if you prefer the texture of the chopped vegetables, keep it as it is.
7. Serve the soup with the Parmesan croutons & the chopped chives.
8. CROUTONS:.
9. Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 4/180C/350F or pre-heat the grill.
10. Place the bread cubes in a bowl, sprinkle in the oil, then stir them around until the bread has soaked up all the oil.
11. Next add the freshly grated Parmesan, and stir again till all the bread cubes are well coated.
12. Spread them out over a baking sheet and either bake in the pre-heated oven for 10 minutes, or else place them under the pre-heated grill, turning as necessary. (If you use the grill, watch them VERY CAREFULLY as they can burn very easily.).
13. The croutons can be made well in advance and stored in an airtight tin for up to two weeks.

Reviews

[Chef Shadows]

Wonderful recipe FT! I used a little more Stilton then you called for ( LOL! you know my passion for that cheese! ) This is going into our family cookbook and will become a treasured addition to family events. Thanks FT, I have made this again with the addition of some fresh aspargus ( 6 stalks cut into 1 inch pieces and cooked with the other veggies ) again it is beyond belief!

[Maito]

I love potato soups, and this one tops all the other delicous ones I have made so far! I used one fourth the butter, wine for the cider, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. I topped it with Glutino parmesan bagel chips (which taste like croutons) and they were perfect on it. All such wonderful flavors together, a definite new favorite!

[evelyn/athens]

Made up a 1/2 batch of this delicious soup for just DH and myself. It is really lovely, rich and creamy. I actually served it chilled, rather than hot, and we both found it excellent. Looking forward to trying this again hot, when cooler weather sets in.