Soupe De Bonne Femme or Old Wives Soup

Yesterday we had a very hearty soup called Soupe de Bonne Femme which translates as Old Wives Soup. I dished it up to Malcolm, Megan and myself and we were totally stuffed! Very easy to make and tasted great. It needs very little ingredients and inexpensive to make.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 3  leeks
• 3  tablespoons salted butter
• 2 -3  medium potatoes
• 6  cups water, plus
• 1  tablespoon water
• 4  slices  toasted  French bread
•  salt and pepper

Directions

1. 1.
2. Cut off larger green endings of leeks and dispose. Wash tender white part of leeks well and cut into small circles.
3. 2.
4. Cook leeks for 1 minute with 1 Tablespoon of salted butter.
5. 3.
6. Add 1 Tablespoon of water and cook for 5 minutes more on low heat.
7. 4.
8. Peel potatoes and also cut them into circles.
9. 5.
10. Add them to leeks with 6 cups of water, salt and pepper to taste. Let soup boil very slowly for 45 minutes.
11. 6.
12. Butter the toast (with salted butter!) and put one piece in the bottom of each soup bowl.
13. 7.
14. Pour the soup directly on top of the toast and serve immediately.
15. Make sure you use French bread with plenty of salted butter as this is whats gives such a fantastic flavour. You can also add some bacon just before the leeks are added and you can also add some green salad if serving as a main meal.