Creamy Potato Leek Soup

This Creamy Potato Leek Soup is a delicious one-pot soup consisting of potatoes, leeks, yellow onion and garlic pureed into a velvety flavorful soup. A drizzle of heavy cream and snipped fresh chives takes it over the top. This recipe yields 6 (1½ cup) servings.

Although spring is around the corner, it’s still soup season around here.

This past week the week michigan saw high 40 and low 50 degree temps. It was a total mood lifter! False spring days like this, plants a tiny seed of hope that warmer days are not far away. But until then, soup continues to grace our weekly menus. Our latest and greatest is this super simple and deliciously creamy, potato leek soup! This one pot soup is so easy and the perfect dipper for torn bread or a ham and cheese grilled cheese sandwich.

I love recipes like this.

To Make This Creamy Potato Leek Soup You Will Need:

• unsalted butter – Lends richness and flavor.
• olive oil – Helps to bring the smoke point up on the butter while adding richness and flavor.
• yellow onion – Adds a sweet and subtle onion flavor to the soup.
• leeks – Lends mild, sweet onion flavor. Be sure to rinse well and pat dry – instructions are below.
• garlic – Adds distinct punchy flavor.
• thyme (dried) – Lends an earthy, slightly minty and lemony flavor.
• russet potatoes – I like to use them because their starches help thicken the soup.
• low-sodium broth – Use low sodium chicken or vegetable broth.
• half & half – Which is just equal parts whole milk and heavy cream.
• kosher salt – Enhances the flavors in the soup.
• freshly ground black pepper – Adds some subtle bite and flavor.

for serving:

• heavy cream
• snipped chives
• freshly ground black pepper

First thoroughly wash 1-1/4 pounds of leeks.

NOTE: I weighed the leeks at the grocery store, so this weigh is before removing the tough layers of the leek.

How To Clean Leeks:

Start by removing any tough outer leaves and trimming off the top, tough dark green parts. Slice the leek in half from top to bottom, keeping the root end intact. Fan each half under a steady stream of cool water to rinse and brush away any sand or dirt. Pat dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel and slice. You can also slice and then soak the leeks and spin dry in a salad spinner.

Make The Soup:

In a 4 to 6-quart dutch oven, add 2 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon olive oil and heat over medium to medium-low heat.

Once melted, add in 1 large yellow onion (diced) and all of the sliced leeks. Cover, stirring occasionally until soft and the onions translucent. About 8 to 12 minutes.

Once soft, add in 1 teaspoon dried thyme (forgot to snap a picture of this) and 4 cloves of minced fresh garlic. Stir and cook 1 minute.

Add in 1 pound peeled and diced (about 1-1/2 inch pieces) potatoes.

Pour in 6 cups of low sodium broth. I prefer chicken broth but vegetable broth can be substituted.

Stir well and bring to a simmer uncovered over medium heat. Adjust the heat underneath the pot as needed.

Cook the potatoes uncovered for about 20 to 25 minutes or until very tender.

Using an immersion blender, puree soup until smooth. Alternatively, transfer soup to a blender, remove the center plug out of the center of the lid and cover with a kitchen towel while pureeing until smooth.

Next, pour in 3/4 cup half & half.

Taste and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. For me, it was 2 teaspoons salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper, however season this soup to your liking.

Stir well to combine and heat through.

That’s it! I love how easy this soup is!

Ladle soup into bowls and add drizzle 1 tablespoon heavy cream over top of each bowl. Top with snipped fresh chives and extra black pepper.

What To Serve With Potato Leek Soup?

• grilled cheese sandwich (add thin sliced ham – so good!)
• bread – Like sourdough, Irish soda bread, rye or my rustic loaf.
• soup crackers

Try It:

• topped with crispy pieces of bacon
• leave it slightly chunky and add diced ham
• Swirl in Irish cheddar cheese

Enjoy! And if you give this Creamy Potato Leek Soup recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!