Why a cream based soup this week? I’m glad you asked. Saturday night begins the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, on which many people have the tradition of eating meals that contain dairy and are devoid of meat. Strict Jewish law prohibits eating dairy and meat at the the same meal. For many people that means dishes like cheese lasagna, sweet blintzes (Jewish crepes), and cheesecake for dessert, but for me it has has always been an excuse to bust out the butter and heavy cream, taking the opportunity to trade the traditional chicken soup for something a little more rich and decadent.
One of the great things about this soup is that it does not require hours of simmering as it uses cream and milk instead of stock. You do need to be careful to cook this soup over a low flame and stir it often, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pot as you stir. This soup, like many thick soups, can easily burn on the bottom if you are not careful.
A velvety rich soup, great for any special occasion.
- 12 Medium Russet Potatoes Peeled and cut into large pieces
- 2 Medium Leeks Sliced and cleaned. Leeks can be sandy so make sure to clean them well.
- 6 Medium Zucchinis 4 peeled and sliced into rounds, and 2 sliced but not not peeled
- 2 Cups Heavy Cream
- 2-4 Cups 2% Milk
- 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter Split into two 1 tbsp pieces
- White Pepper To taste. Black pepper will ruin the beautiful white color of this soup.
- Kosher Salt
- Immersion Blender
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Fill a large heavy pot 2/3 with salted water. Add 10 of the potatoes and put over high heat.
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Boil the potatoes until they easily break apart with a fork, then remove from the heat, drain off the water, and set the potatoes aside.
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Put the pot back over low heat and add 1/2 the butter (1 tbsp), the leeks, and a heavy pinch of salt. Saute until the leeks start to brown.
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Add the other half of the butter and the peeled zucchini rounds. Brown the zucchini on both sides.
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Add the potatoes back in to the pot along with the cream. Place over low heat and simmer until until the zucchini is soft. Make sure to stir often to prevent the bottom from burning.
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Turn off the heat and using an immersion blender to puree until smooth. Slowly incorporate the milk until your desired consistency is achieved. You may not need all 4 cups.
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Add in the remaining 2 potatoes and the unpeeled zucchini slices and place back over medium heat. Simmer until you can easily insert a knife into the potatoes, again stirring often to prevent the bottom from burning.
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Season to taste with salt and white pepper. Serve immediately, or freeze for the future.
Don’t forget to check out Rachel’s Shavuot Recipe: Dairy-free maple cinnamon custard
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