Description
Creamy Potato Soup invites comfort and warmth in one delightful bowl, blending rich flavors with hearty ingredients. Hearty potatoes and smooth cream create a delectable experience you’ll savor with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 pound (454 grams) bacon, chopped
- 4 cups (960 milliliters) chicken broth
Vegetables:
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) thinly sliced carrots
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) kale, stems removed and chopped fine
Seasonings and Thickeners:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream or half and half
- 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Render bacon in a spacious pot until golden and crisp, transferring the strips to a paper towel-lined plate while preserving the rendered fat.
- Sauté diced aromatics (onion, carrots, celery, and minced garlic) in the remaining bacon drippings until vegetables become translucent and fragrant, approximately 5 minutes.
- Introduce diced potatoes and chicken broth to the pot, elevating heat to generate a rolling boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 15-20 minutes until potatoes reach a tender consistency.
- Craft a velvety roux in a separate skillet by melting butter and whisking in flour until smooth, gradually incorporating heavy cream to create a luxurious base.
- Integrate the cream mixture into the potato mixture, stirring continuously to prevent scorching and allow the soup to thicken for 3-4 minutes over medium heat.
- Enhance the soup’s complexity by folding in chopped tarragon, fresh kale, and reserved crispy bacon pieces, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Allow the soup to meld flavors by simmering an additional 2-3 minutes before ladling into warm bowls, ensuring a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.
Notes
- Maximize bacon flavor by rendering fat slowly over medium-low heat, ensuring crispy texture without burning.
- Create a smoother soup consistency by partially mashing some potatoes with a potato masher before adding cream mixture.
- Reduce dairy content for lighter version by substituting half-and-half with low-fat milk or vegetable broth.
- Elevate vegetarian options by replacing bacon with smoked paprika and roasted mushrooms for depth of umami flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 366 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg