Simple and Delicious Potato Leek Soup

The portions outlined here make a rather large batch; the recipe may easily be reduced by dividing everything in half. Ideally, you should have an immersion blender for this recipe; however, a regular blender will work; it just takes more effort.

• 4 Leeks

• 6 Quarts of broth

• 1lb Butter

• 10lbs of Potatoes russet or yellow

• 2 cups of Sour Cream

• 10 Garlic Cloves

• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Because leeks are very dirty, it is best to cut them and wash them thoroughly in cold water. For this recipe, cut the base near the root and then the top under the branching section. Once the top and bottom have been removed, slice the leek in half down the middle and then slice each half thinly into short crescents. Next, stir the cut leeks into a bowl of cold water before straining it through a colander and washing off any remaining dirt.

Next, wash, peel, and cut the potatoes. A medium to small dice is good to aim for; the smaller, the faster they cook. Garlic cloves may be sliced or smashed with the side of a knife or the back of a spoon; it all gets blended In the end. For the broth, you'll need about 6 quarts of liquid; it should just cover the potatoes. Don't worry if there's too little broth with soups; adding more liquid if needed is easier than removing it if there's too much.

In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter and sweat the leek string occasionally to keep them from burning until soft. Then add the potatoes and broth, stir to combine, and boil; cook until the potatoes are soft. Once cooked, remove the pot from heat and blend the soup with an immersion blender or in a regular blender in batches as needed. Once fully blended, add the sour cream and season it with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with scallions, cheddar, and bacon bits; if vegetarian, leave the bacon off.

Making this soup vegan is possible by using a plant-based butter alternative, replacing the sour cream with unsweetened and unflavored nut/soy milk, or leaving it out entirely; garnish as desired.