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A Tasty Introduction to Potato Soup Recipes
There is no such thing as the perfect recipe for potato soup. Perhaps, more correctly, we should say, there is no such thing as one perfect potato soup recipe. You will find that nearly everyone has a recipe for potato soup that they love, and probably you would love as well. Potato soup recipes run the gamut from desert soups, using sweet potatoes as the primary ingredient to make a sweet potato soup recipe, to baked potato soups.
A hearty soup, potatoes were first considered to be the primary ingredient in soup because they were always quite low priced. Soups that used potatoes as the primary part of the soup were typically made when the family was less well to do and needed an ingredient that was low in cost but would stretch the meal budget to help feed a larger family for less money. In fact, one recipe book that came out in the early part of the 1900's that offered ideas on how to feed a family of six for about 10-15 cents a day.
Early Potato Soup In Books
The book got wide acclaim from critics and family members alike. One of the primary things that were served, due to their low cost, was potato recipes or easy potato soup recipe variations that offered the cook the means to give a nourishing meal for a very low price.
Today, although potatoes are a lot more costly than they used to be, you can easily find a bag of ten pounds of potatoes for about 3.50 USD. This means, even given that you may use half of them to create your potato soup recipe, that if you add onion and one or two slices of bacon, it is conceivable to feed a family of six a good hearty meal of potato soup with bacon slices and cheese for about 10 dollars. That is nothing to sneeze at any time.
Potato Soup Recipe Variations
Potato leek soup is widely loved and is served in some of the most elegant restaurants in the world. Likewise tomato and potato bisque is a much-loved kind of potato soup that is not classed today as a low cost meal, but the reality is that all of these cost a minimal amount to make.
Whether you are on a budget or are just looking for something wonderful and different to eat for a hearty meal, a potato soup recipe or an easy potato leek soup recipe will be just the ticket to a happy family. Bear in mind that cheese is a natural pairing with potato soup and adding cheese to any potato soup recipe will just give it an added flavor and an interesting texture, particularly if you add the cheese over the top and then use the broiler for just a minute or two until it is completely melted and stretchy.
Bon Appétit, and thanks for visiting,
Christine and Everyone here at Potato Soup Recipe
Featured Potato Soup Recipe:
Potato Leek Soup Recipe
Good potato soup is not the least bit difficult to make. You are always going to want to start any dish with the ingredients as fresh as you can get them. This assures you of getting all those wonderful nutrients as well as a full tummy at the end. There is not a right way or a wrong way to make potato soup. The recipes for potato soup that you are going to find, here and elsewhere, are as individual as the cooks who will be making them and everyone has their own particular favorites, so you might want to experiment a little, trying different potato soup recipes, to discover what you like best.
You can make a great pot of soup with potatoes as the basis for the soup, using ingredients such as onions or leeks, and maybe some grated cheese. In fact, you do not even really need to add meat or other flavors, although many people making potato soup are using sausage, chicken, bacon, spinach, and various other add-ins. Most people have their own recipes that they are using for their potato soup and those are normally potato soup recipe variations that they have had passed down through their family over many years and perhaps changed slightly over time. Each one is individual, some using cream, some just milk, others adding meat or fish, and everyone is special and delicious.
The following recipe calls for potatoes, leeks and cheddar cheese, as well as some cream for a luxurious finish and some cornstarch to thicken the soup up a little. Garnished simply with a fresh herb sprig or even served alone, this wonderful soup has stood the test of time and remains one of today's classic potato soup recipes.
Leek and Potato Soup Topped with Cheddar Cheese
Ingredients -
6 potatoes diced
4 leeks finely chopped including the tops
1 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp butter
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup white sharp cheddar cheese
2 tbsp corn starch
Preparation:
Pare and dice your potatoes in pieces about half inch square and put them in the pot with water to cover the potatoes. Cook about 25-30 minutes until potatoes are softened and beginning to slightly decompose.
Add the leeks along with the butter to the mixture, lowering the heat and simmering until mixture begins to thicken slightly.
Add one half of the cheese to the mixture and allow to cook and dissolve as it melts. Mix the corn starch with cold water to make a thin paste. Then return the soup mixture to a low boil and stir in the corn starch and lower the heat. Stir continuously until the soup mixture is thickened and has a very creamy texture.
If you want your soup to have chunks, which most people do for a heartier soup, leave it as is. If you have always liked a creamy texture, you can use a food processor to make a fully cream soup that has not chunks of meat or potato.
Remove from heat and ladle into soup bowls, topping with grated cheddar and if you desire, toss it into the broiler to slightly brown the cheese and release the taste more fully.
This part is optional. In addition, although we have not done so here, you might also consider adding some croutons, or floating a piece of bread topped with butter and melted cheese on your individual bowls of potato soup, which is a lovely means of presenting the soup to your family or your guests.
(Serves 4)
Potato Soup Recipe
Photo Description:
This creamy potato soup is a typical comfort food recipe. The humble potato is used in many comfort food recipes; potatoes can be turned into crispy fries, delicious wedges, or buttery mashed potatoes. Converting your potatoes into a rich, creamy soup is just as easy and there are hundreds of different recipes for potato soup that you can choose from. Keep the flavors simple and classic by using cream, butter, onions, or leek, or make a more unusual soup with tomatoes or summer squash. You can use herbs and spices to add even more flavor to your delicious homemade potato soup recipe.
An Introduction to Potato Soup
Potato soup is a traditional and classic dish, although there are also plenty of modern interpretations of this timeless favorite. If you like potatoes, you will love potato soup, since there are recipes for all palates.
There are creamy potato soup recipes as well as chunky ones, there are potato soups which are supposed to be served piping hot, and there are chilled ones too. Some make great dinners because they are rich, creamy, and hearty, and others are more simple, perhaps better suited to a light lunch or an appetizer course. There are potato soups featuring meat, bacon, poultry, fish, or seafood, and there are vegetarian ones too.
How Easy Can Potato Soup Be?
Potato soup can be as easy and chopping a couple of potatoes and boiling them in stock or another kind of seasoned liquid. It is up to you whether or not to puree the finished soup.
You can add other vegetables to potato soup recipes, such as beans, broccoli, peas, corn, mushrooms, leeks, onion, or garlic, or you can add meat, bacon, or poultry for a meatier flavor. Some of the liquid in your soup could be wine, milk, cream or coconut milk instead of water or stock, and you can even make sweet potato soups with cream and brown sugar, and serve these as desserts. The sky is the limit with potato soup recipes.
Shopping for the Best Potatoes
Potatoes are one of the most popular vegetables in the United States and almost fifty pounds of potatoes are consumed per person every year. This includes baking potatoes, fingerling potatoes, purple ones and new potatoes, amongst other varieties. Potatoes help to regulate the metabolism, converting food into energy, and they are rich in vitamin B6. Potatoes are low in calories and high in potassium which is good for retaining calcium in the body and for cardiovascular health.
A lot of people mistakenly believe potatoes are fattening but this is not true. The sour cream and butter than many people pile on to their potatoes is the reason for possible weight gain, not the potatoes themselves. If they were to swap the sour cream and butter for plain yogurt with green onions and fresh herbs, they would discover this to be true.
Choose smooth, firm, clean potatoes and reject anything with rotten areas, skinned areas, cracks, bruises, or gashes. Smell the potatoes if you can, because if they smell moldy or musty this might indicate decay. Never buy shriveled or sprouted potatoes. This happens when they are stored in sunlight and they will turn green eventually. Green potatoes contain solanine which is toxic.
Some potatoes are washed and others have earth on them so scrub all your potatoes before using them, unless you are peeling them. You can use a potato brush or a dish-washing brush. A potato brush is best for removing the earth though. Potatoes should be stored between 45 and 55 degrees F, somewhere dark with good ventilation. Before using potatoes to make potato soup recipes, cut out the eyes and remove any nubs, then scrub them well.
How to Serve Potato Soup
Potato soup can be served as a drink, a snack, or a complete meal. If you are serving a pureed soup, you can choose to serve it out of a mug or bowl. You will need to eat textured or chunky soups with a spoon.
Garnish your soup with a dollop of sour cream or crème fraiche if you like, as well as some chopped fresh herbs or whole herb sprigs, or a pinch of your favorite spice. Croutons work well with pureed soups. A pureed soup is thick enough for the croutons to float on top.
A Closer Look Inside Potato Soup Recipe
Potato Soup Recipe
Potato Soup Recipe - The best potato soup recipe will be one that you can use whether you are needing something hot and hearty for a winter meal or one that can go from summer to winter and be used as a cool soup too. Everyone has their favorite recipe for potato soup, but mixing it up and trying a few new things can be really fun and interesting, not only for you to cook, but also for your family to eat. Do not get stuck in a rut, Try a new potato soup recipe today and surprise your taste buds.
Baked Potato Soup Recipe
Baked Potato Soup Recipe - One of the most hearty winter time foods will be a good baked potato recipe that incorporates some of the add-ins that you might top your baked potato with. Things like bacon, cheddar, sour cream, and French onion can all be used in a baked potato soup recipe and offer you a taste sensation. There are as many baked potato soup recipe variations as there are cooks who make them. What's your favorite baked potato topping?
Easy Potato Soup Recipe
Easy Potato Soup Recipe - Is there such a thing as an easy potato soup recipe? You bet there is. Potatoes are one of the easier vegetables to work with, offering us a wide array of different kinds of additions. In fact, potatoes go with nearly everything that you can imagine, from beef to bacon and offer an equally good taste every time.
Potato Leek Soup Recipe
Potato Leek Soup Recipe - Potatoes and leeks are a natural combination. The slight onion taste that you get is outstanding and is slightly lighter in taste and texture. It will give you a mild onion taste that goes well with the flavor of the potatoes and nearly any kind of meat that you get. The strength of the onion flavor will be just as pervasive but much milder in nature, which means that they can be used with lighter meats as well as the more strong flavored ones.
Sweet Potato Soup Recipe
Sweet Potato Soup Recipe - Sweet potato soup is typically not used as a hearty soup, however it can be. When paired with bacon or other types of meats, it can make a very hearty soup that is used to warm a cold winter day. The versatility of the sweet potato is what makes it such a perfect vegetable. Sweet potato soup, when made with cream and brown sugar also makes a remarkable dessert dish that can sweeten the end of a meal quite nicely.
Potato Soup Articles
How To Make Potato Soup - How to make potato soup is a question that new cooks as well as seasoned ones will ask. The potato lends itself well to a wide array of different kinds of soups and different potatoes will give you a different return. For example, red potatoes, when scrubbed and the skins left on them can make a wonderful baked potato soup that is garnished with the best cheese you can find as well as crunchy bacon, while sweet potatoes will make a marvelous dessert recipe that will leave you feeling as though you've eaten a good meal with a perfect sweet ending.
Five Reasons to Make Your Own Potato Soup Recipes
Everyone loves a good potato soup recipe. Of course you can buy potato soup and some of it does not taste all that bad, but the reality is that if you don't make your own you're going to be missing out on some very wonderful taste treats. The top five reasons to make your own potato soup recipes are:
1) Fresh potato soup has an infinitely better taste and texture than that which has been canned and kept on a store shelf for many months.
2) Using fresh ingredients means getting a better return on your money. You can make potato soup yourself far more cheaply than you can buy it and get a much nicer taste and a more custom tailored soup to the likes of your family.
3) You can add the ingredients that you want when you make it yourself instead of doing that... take it, as it is that you will get with most potato soups on the market that don't offer a lot of unique ingredients.
4) The nutrients are not only better in the potato soup that you make, but they have not been broken down, as they are in the canned soups that you will find on the market. There are a vast array of differences in canned and freshly made soups.
5) Not only will you get more fresh ingredients, but canned soups often offer you a very high level of sodium that typically no one needs,. Control that by making your own fresh potato soup from our potato soup recipes.
How to Make Memorable Potato Soup Recipes
Although potato soup is one of the most basic soup recipes you can make, it pays to learn how to make your potato soup memorable for all the right reasons. Just like with any other soup recipe, the end result will depend on the quality of ingredients you used and the care you took while preparing the soup.
If you are making a pureed soup, you can chop the vegetables coarsely because everything is going to be blended. If you are making a chunky potato soup recipe, you should take a bit more care, ensuring the veggies are chopped into evenly sized pieces.
Ingredients and Presentation
You can adapt some potato soup recipes but classic ones should be made as they are written. An example of one you could adapt would be potato and mixed vegetable soup. If the recipe calls for potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, stock, and seasonings, you might want to swap the carrots for parsnips or swap the broccoli for zucchini. This is unlikely to make the soup any less appealing.
If you are making a traditional recipe for vichyssoise, switching the homemade chicken broth for canned, swapping the heavy cream for Half & Half or substituting instant mashed potato granules for real potatoes is going to give you a potato soup with the consistency and flavor of wallpaper paste, rather than the elegant soup you had in mind.
Potato Soup that People Will Remember
Homemade soup is a real comfort food and the best way to ensure your potato soups are memorable is to make it with the diners in mind. Do your kids love hot, creamy soups? Then you might like to make a delicious creamy potato soup recipe. Are you catering for a dinner party? If so, an elegant chilled potato soup might fit the bill.
Try These Delicious Potato Soup Recipes
Here is just a sampling of our delicious potato soup recipes you'll find plenty more inside the site.
Vegan Sweet Potato Soup Recipe
Potato and Broccoli Soup Recipe
History of the Potato
The history of the potato is quite interesting actually. Potatoes were grown in nearly every area of the world, although of course they are more commonly found in historical items in countries such as Ireland and Britain.
Believe it or not however, the original potatoes have actually been DNA raced and proven to have come from Peru. They are grown wild in many areas of the America's but primarily we read about and hear about the history of the potato from Ireland and Europe where it has long been a staple of families for years.
Both Sir Francis Drake as well as others have been credited with introducing the potato to Ireland and Europe and there are records of the potato being used in Spain as both food for humans as well as fodder for the animals who were being raised. It is said that once it was introduced into Ireland, the potatoes, as well as the milk from a single cow was completely what the Irish had to eat.
Potato history has some very dark spots as well as some great tasting ones. In fact, the great potato famine of Ireland has been claimed as the responsible factor for the deaths of many people who depended on the potato as a staple of their diet. Many of them actually died due to the inability to find other means to sustain themselves.
It is reputed that the great potato famine of Ireland was responsible for the deaths of more than one million people, who had depended on the potato to help them to stay alive, as the people of Ireland were, at that time, often desperately poor.
Today, potatoes are used in nearly every country of the world and are a staple for many fast food restaurants as well as providing snacks and other luxury items.
Find Out More About the History of Potato Soup in our more in depth look at its history.
Photo Description:
If you are looking for heaven in a bowl, you have found it. Whether you have fond memories of the potato soup your mother or grandmother used to prepare, or you have tried a delicious potato soup recipe in a restaurant and wish to recreate it, this recipe allows you to do so. It could be that you are completely new to potato soup or you want to find out how much better homemade soups are than canned ones. As this photo shows, the creaminess of this soup is one thing that makes it stand out. This is comfort food at its finest and the recipe is really easy as well.
Why Homemade Potato Soup Recipes are Wonderfully Unique
Although there are a lot of vegetable soups to choose from, including broccoli soup, pumpkin soup, mixed vegetable soup and lentil vegetable soup, it has to be said that potato soup recipes are in a league of their own. Not only is potato soup a unique flavored soup but it is also one of the best comfort foods. If you are used to eating chicken noodle soup when you have a cold or the flu, or when you simply fancy something hot and comforting, why not try potato soup recipes instead?
Which Potato Soup to Make
Potato soup made with other vegetables can be really nutritious, or you can try out some international potato soup recipes or even something sweet like a sweet potato soup. There are plenty of ways to make your potato soup recipes unique and special. You might like to swap some of the ingredients in the soup, use a different kind of broth, or even make some homemade croutons to add crunch and extra flavor.
The most difficult thing about making a potato soup recipe is deciding what kind of soup to make. Do you want a pureed potato soup or a clear, chunky one? Are you going to add fragrant fresh herbs for an aromatic touch or spice the soup up with cayenne pepper or chilies? Would you prefer a mild-tasting potato soup recipe or something bold and exciting? There are potato soup recipes for everyone, no matter what your personal preferences are.
Different Kinds of Potato Soup Recipes Around the World
Potato soup is popular in many countries and each place has its own way of making this tasty dish. Potatoes are a staple in many places and have played a major role in many cultures' diets. Potatoes can be prepared in many ways, including boiled, grilled, fried, baked, and mashed, and you can even use leftover potatoes to make potato soup recipes.
The very first potato soup recipes were made by boiling potatoes in water over an open fire, but modern ones are decadent, creamy, and carefully flavored for fantastic results. In the South, potato soups often contain ham or peas. In the North, it might feature onions, butter, milk, chicken stock, and celery, which is also the way this dish is made in Ireland.
Hot Potato Soup and Chilled Potato Soup
Although you can get chilled soup recipes in cold places (like borscht in Russia), hot creamy soups are more popular in cold places, and chilled ones are more refreshing in warm ones. Few things are more warming or satisfying than a bowl of hot potato soup on a cold evening, or more light and refreshing than a chilled potato soup recipe on a hot day.
Classic American Potato Soup
Potato soup is popular in the United States. Featuring ingredients like milk or cream, onions and more, this is a perfect winter warmer. There are also sweet potato soup recipes which are great as appetizers or desserts.
Asian Potato Soup
Although potato soup is not an Asian dish, sweet potato soup is popular in Canton, China. This thin-textured soup has a rich flavor. The sweet potato is boiled with ginger and rock candy (rock sugar) until tender. Sweet potato is one of the most common vegetables grown in China.
German Potato Soup
One of the most famous kinds of potato soup is the kind that is German in origin. These often feature bacon and onions, as well as cream and perhaps caraway seed or cabbage. German potato soup is really satisfying and the meatiness that the bacon gives is amazing.
Hungarian Potato Soup
Another classic recipe with potatoes is Hungarian potato soup. Boasting delicious ingredients such as celery, onions, sausage, and sour cream, this is a hearty and satisfying treat. Some versions also contain poached eggs. If you like sausage in your potato soup, you might like to try an Italian potato soup recipe with Italian sausage.
South American Potato Soup
Cazuela is the name given to potato soup recipes in South America. Originating from Spain, cazuela usually features squash or pumpkin, beef or chicken, corn, rice and potato, and it is made with a clear broth. This makes a delicious lunch or supper. Cazuela is always served chunky, never pureed. Go to Ecuador and you can try cheesy potato soup, a national favorite.
Potato Soup in the UK
Cullen skink is a smoked haddock and potato soup which is popular in Scotland. It contains cream and onions too. Cream of potato soup is also popular in Britain and this soup can be homemade or you can buy it in a can. Cream of potato soup can also be used as a sauce for meat or poultry recipes.
French Potato Soup
Vichyssoise is a French-American potato soup which is served warm or cold. The ingredients usually include leek, chives, and chicken broth. This recipe is believed to have been invented by a French chef working in the New York Ritz.
There are other kinds of French soup recipes with potatoes too. French potato soup often features leeks as well as the potatoes, and it might contain nutmeg or parsley for flavor, as well as onion, butter and milk for a rich, creamy result.
Homemade Potato Soup Recipes for Everyone
Although potato soup is nice served by itself, it is even better served with corn muffins or crusty bread. You can even immerse a corn muffin into the already-ladled soup for a nice treat, or serve the soup with crackers instead. There are potato soup recipes for everyone since there are so many varieties, ranging from chilled soups to hot ones, mild ones to really spicy ones, and smooth pureed ones to the chunky textured kind.
You might like to make a baked potato soup recipe, which is a rich soup including onions, heavy cream, cheddar cheese and perhaps bacon. Anything that goes well with a baked potato will be yummy in a baked potato soup recipe, and you can keep the potato skins on for added nutrients.
Healthy Potato Soup Recipes
You might prefer a potato and vegetable soup recipe, and you can add leeks, cabbage, mushrooms, broccoli or carrots to the potatoes to boost the flavor, thicken the soup and make it more nutritious. Soup is also a great way to use up veggies which are past their prime, and you can even add sweet potatoes for a lovely sweet finish. This flavorful dish is also really healthy.
Potato soup is comforting and smooth and there are hundreds of ways to prepare it. You can adapt potato soup recipes if you like, adapting them to suit kids, grownups or whomever you are feeding. You can make elegant dinner party-style potato soups, either hot or chilled, or you can make family-friendly soups which are thick, creamy, and satisfying. Potato soup can be an appetizer or a complete dinner. Throw in some meat, poultry, or fish and your potato soup will be hearty enough to be the main event of your meal.
Top Tips for the Best Homemade Potato Soup Recipes
A great potato soup begins with the most important ingredient which is, of course, the potatoes. There are lots of different types of potatoes so make sure you are using the best one for your soup. Most soup recipes will work well if you buy "all-purpose potatoes" but some recipes will call for a specific type. Of course, sweet potato soup will require sweet potatoes.
Cooked potatoes should be stored in the refrigerator but uncooked ones do better in a cool, dark place. This is because the refrigerator converts the potato starch into sugar, robbing the potatoes of their natural texture and flavor. Take them out of the plastic storage bags and put them in a bowl or basket to allow for air circulation.
There are a few handy tips which you might like to read if you are thinking about making a potato soup recipe. Although traditional recipes should be followed to the letter, you have quite a lot of leeway with other potato soup recipes and can alter the ingredients as you see fit.
Some people might like to add plenty of garlic to their potato soup, or throw in some broccoli or cabbage which needs to be used up, or add maple syrup to their sweet potato soup instead of brown sugar. Feel free to play around with our potato soup recipes if you choose to. Soup recipes tend to be quite forgiving and adding some extra veggies will add extra nutrients and flavor.