miércoles, 19 de enero de 2011

Purée of Winter Vegetable Soup

RECIPES FOR HEALTH

Purée of Winter Vegetable Soup

Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
Living in France, I was always impressed by the bags of mixed vegetables, called soupe, sold in farmers’ markets and supermarkets alike. The bags usually included an onion, carrots and celery, a leek, a turnip or two and a bouquet garni consisting of a bay leaf, a sprig of thyme and another of parsley. I’ve added root vegetables this ginger-scented soup, which is inspired by the many simple suppers I enjoyed in the homes of French friends.

Recipes for Health

Martha Rose Shulman presents food that is vibrant and light, full of nutrients but by no means ascetic, fun to cook and to eat.
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 pound leeks (1 large or 2 small), white and light green parts only, cleaned well and sliced
1/2 pound carrots (2 large), peeled and sliced
1/2 pound kohlrabi, trimmed, peeled and diced
1/2 pound turnips, peeled and diced
6 ounces potatoes (2 medium), peeled and diced
1 1/2 quarts water, chicken stock or vegetable stock (see note)
2 fat slices ginger, peeled
1 bay leaf
A couple of sprigs each thyme and parsley
12 peppercorns
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion. Cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, about three minutes. Add the leeks and a generous pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, until tender but not browned, about five more minutes. Add the carrots, kohlrabi, turnips, potatoes and water or stock. Bring to a boil.
2. Meanwhile, wrap the ginger, bay leaf, thyme, parsley and peppercorns in cheesecloth. Tie them up to make a bouquet garni, and add to the pot. Add salt to taste (about 2 teaspoons), reduce the heat, cover and simmer one hour. Remove the cheesecloth bag, and discard.
3. Blend the soup until smooth with an immersion blender or in batches in a regular blender. (Do not put the top on tight; cover the top with a towel to prevent hot splashes.) Pour the soup through a strainer into a bowl; press the soup through the strainer with the back of a ladle or with a pestle. Return to the pot and heat through. Add lots of freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt, and serve.
Note: To make a quick vegetable stock, cut away the dark green outer leaves of the leeks, wash thoroughly, and simmer in a pot of water with the peelings from the carrots while you prepare your other vegetables. Strain, and use for the soup.
Yield: Serves six.
Advance preparation: The finished soup will keep for three or four days in the refrigerator. Whisk before reheating.
Nutritional information per serving: 109 calories; 3 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 milligrams cholesterol; 21 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 76 milligrams sodium (does not include salt to taste); 3 grams protein

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