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Creamy Potato Leek Soup Recipe with Crispy Pancetta Topping

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A cozy and creamy potato leek soup topped with crispy pancetta, perfect for chilly evenings and easy to prepare in about 45 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 3 medium leeks, cleaned thoroughly and sliced (white and light green parts only)
  • 6 ounces pancetta, diced
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, for sautéing leeks)

Instructions

  1. Trim the root and dark green parts of the leeks, slice lengthwise, and rinse well in cold water to remove grit. Dice peeled potatoes into roughly 1-inch cubes.
  2. In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add sliced leeks and cook gently, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, about 6-8 minutes. Add minced garlic for the last minute.
  3. Stir in diced potatoes, pour in broth, and add thyme sprigs. Bring to a boil over high heat.
  4. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. While soup simmers, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add diced pancetta and cook until golden and crispy, stirring frequently. Drain on paper towels.
  6. Remove thyme sprigs from soup. Using an immersion blender, puree soup until smooth but still a bit hearty. If using a regular blender, blend in batches carefully.
  7. Stir in heavy cream and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Heat through without boiling.
  8. Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle generously with crispy pancetta. Optionally garnish with chopped fresh chives or parsley.

Notes

If soup is too thick after blending, stir in a splash of broth or water to loosen. Cook leeks gently to avoid bitterness. Crisp pancetta in a dry pan over medium heat and drain excess fat. Salt soup after adding cream to avoid over-salting. Soup can be made vegetarian by omitting pancetta and using vegetable broth and extra olive oil.

Nutrition

Keywords: potato leek soup, creamy soup, pancetta topping, comfort food, easy soup recipe, cozy soup, crispy pancetta, homemade soup

Find it online: https://novanosh.com/creamy-potato-leek-soup-recipe-with-crispy-pancetta-topping-easy-and-perfect/