Leek and Brie Soup

Recipe is from the Queen Victoria & Albert resort in Disney World, Orlando.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 4-6
• Yields: 8 cups

Ingredients

• 2  cups  chopped leeks (white & tender green portions)
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped celery
• 1  tablespoon  chopped shallot
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  minced garlic
• 1  tablespoon  clarified butter
• 1⁄2 cup vermouth
• 2  cups  peeled cubed new potatoes
• 1  teaspoon dried thyme
•  white pepper
• 6  cups  chicken stock
• 2  cups heavy cream
• 1  cup  cubed  brie cheese (rind removed)
• 1⁄2 cup  lightly packed stemmed spinach
•  sour cream and milk (to garnish)
•  cinnamon basil (to garnish)

Directions

1. 1) In large saucepan, saute' leeks, celery, shallots, and garlic in clarified butter until soft.
2. 2) Add vermouth. Boil gently until reduced by half.
3. 3) Add new potatoes, thyme, white pepper to taste, chicken stock, and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Add Brie, 1 cube at a time, whiskingt until blended after each addition.
4. 4) Boil gently for 15 minutes until potatoes are tender.
5. 5) Pour 1/3 of the soup into blender container. Add 1/3 of the spinach . Puree until smooth. Repeat with remaining soup and spinach in 2 batches.
6. 6) Ladle into serving bowls. Garnish with swirls of sour cream thinned to a drizzling consistency with a little milk.
7. 7) Trim plates with sprigs of cinnamon basil.