Potato Leek Soup Recipe

This simple, 4-ingredient potato leek soup is warm and comforting enough for chilly late winter days, but light, clean and green enough for an early spring meal. Our chef included his vegetable stock if you want to make your own from scratch, but organic, store-bought stock works well, too. Fresh produce, herbs and flowers grown organically at the ranch are available each Wednesday in our San Francisco Ferry Building shop.

POTATO LEEK SOUP

By Chef Mark Rorhmeier

serves 4 to 8

Ingredients

2 qts. vegetable stock* 4 large leeks, white and light green parts only, quarted lengthwise, chopped into 1/4" pieces and rinsed thoroughly 3 large russet potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1" cubes 1/4 cup McEvoy Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus extra for serving kosher salt white pepper

Directions

1. Combine leeks with olive oil in a 6-quart dutch oven and sweat vegetables over low heat, stirring often to prevent browning.
2. Once leeks are translucent, after about 10 minutes, add potatoes and stir for another 2 minutes.
3. Add vegetable stock and bring to a gentle simmer cooking until the potatoes are tender and fully cooked.
4. Remove soup from heat and let cool slightly. Working in small batches, process the soup in a blender until smooth.
5. Return pureed soup to a clean pot and reheat to serving temperature.
6. Season slowly with kosher salt and white pepper, adding more stock if necessary until you reach desired consistency.
7. Garnish with fried sage, chopped fresh herbs or sauteed mushrooms and finish with a bold splash of McEvoy Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

*VEGETABLE STOCK Ingredients

1 gallon water 4 cups leeks, chopped into 1/4" pieces and rinsed thoroughly 4 cups carrots, peeled and chopped 2 cups yellow onion, peeled and chopped into 1/4" pieces 1/2 cup McEvoy Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil 3 bay leaves

Directions

1. Combine olive oil and chopped vegetables in a heavy 6- to 8-quart stock pot over low heat. Saute until carrots soften, but do not brown, about 15 minutes.
2. Add water and bay leaves, and then bring to a low simmer.
3. Cook for 50 minutes to an hour occasionally removing any foam or scum that rises to the surface.

Optional: as the water comes to a simmer add a couple sprigs of an herb that you eventually will add to the soup for garnish, for a an extra note of flavor. 4. After an hour of cooking, pour stock through a fine-mesh sieve, cool and add to soup as needed. Additional stock not used for the soup can be frozen after cooling in small batches for up to 6 months Find seasonal organic vegetables at our Ferry Building Shop in San Francisco, CA.