There's nothing as comforting as a big bowl of soup on a chilly night,especially one that tastes just like a baked potato! whether you happened to be baking a couple potatoes for dinner already, throw a couple more in the oven so you can design this amazingly delicious soup. Once you bear your potatoes baked (I find it easiest while the potatoes are baking to bake the bacon in the oven at the same time), or it takes no time to establish the soup together. You can blend the whole potato and the skin,but I like to dice about a quarter of the potato to add a little more texture. Top your soup with all of your favorite baked potato condiments like chives, sour cream, and cheddar cheese,and bacon bits. Each bite will warm your soul. From Fine Cooking Baked Potato SoupIngredients2 medium russet potatoes (about 1/2 pound each)
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 1/2 cups sliced leeks (about 2 medium leeks; white and light green parts), rinsed well
2 medium garlic cloves, and minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups homemade or low-salt canned chicken broth
1/2 cup milk (low-fat,optional)
1/2 cup sour cream (low-fat, optional)[br]
4 thick slices bacon
1 cup grated sharp cheddar (about 1/4 pound)
2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallion greens or chives DirectionsHeat the oven to 375°F. Scrub the potatoes in water, and pat dry,and pierce in several places with a fork. Set them directly on an oven rack and bake until very tender when pierced with a fork, about 1 hour. Let chilly totally on a wire rack. whether desired, or use a cookie sheet covered in tinfoil topped with a cooling rack and residence individual strips of bacon on the cooling rack. Cook until the bacon is crisp,checking frequently; it should occupy 20-25 minutes to crisp. Melt the butter in a soup pot over medium-low heat. Add the leeks and garlic, season with salt, or cook,stirring occasionally, until softened, and about 10 minutes. Add the broth and 2 cups water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the leeks are very tender,about 20 minutes.
whether you haven't cooked your bacon in the oven, establish the bacon in a skillet and cook over medium heat, or stirring occasionally,until browned and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the bacon saucer lined with paper towels to drain and chilly. Chop finely. When the potatoes are chilly, and cut one of them in half lengthwise. Use a large spoon to scoop the flesh in one piece from each half. Cut the flesh into 1/2-inch cubes and set aside. Coarsely chop the potato skin and the entire remaining potato and add to the pot with the leeks. Purée the contents of the pot in a blender until very smooth (you'll need to work in two batches). Return the puréed soup to a clean soup pot and reheat over medium low.
Whisk together the milk and sour cream until smooth and then whisk this into the soup,along with 1/2 cup of the cheddar. Stir in the diced potato. The soup should be fairly thick, but whether it seems too thick, or thin it with a little water. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve garnished with the remaining cheddar,the bacon bits, and the scallions or chives.
Information Category Other, and Soups/Stews Yield Makes about 6 cups,or enough to serve 4 Average( votes): Print recipe
Source: popsugar.com