Published March 1, 2010. From Cook's Illustrated.
Pureeing conventional leek-potato soup in a blender makes it unpleasantly gluey, but we weren’t about to use a food mill for such a simple soup. By using fewer potatoes and adding bread crumbs for body, we devised a low-starch, low-cream leek-potato soup recipe that has a smooth texture after being put through the blender.
Don’t fill the blender by more than two-thirds with hot soup; if necessary, process in three batches. You can also use an immersion blender to process the soup directly in the pot. Use the lowest setting on your toaster to dry out the bread without overbrowning it. A garnish is essential to add texture and flavor to this soup. We like Fried Leeks (recipe follows), crisp bacon bits, a dollop of sour cream, or freshly chopped chives. The soup can also be garnished with Garlic Chips or Garlic Croutons (see related recipes).
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