Even though I now reside in the Sunshine
State, I spent most of my life in and around New York, and am abundantly
familiar with the unrelenting harshness of winters in the Northeast. The past
two winters have been particularly brutal, with snowstorm after snowstorm and
record low temps offering little relief. I know it
must be bad, because it’s
also been cold in South Florida – when I have to turn on the heat, it means
it’s pretty darned chilly out. When the temperature dips, there’s nothing
better than homemade soup to nourish the soul (I know it’s not dessert, but an
occasional savory recipe won’t kill you). This hearty soup is a meal in itself,
especially when served with a crusty country bread or homemade croutons. I love
the combination of potato-leek-fennel-and-sausage, with slightly bitter Swiss
chard and a dash of lemon juice serving as counterpoint to the rich
ingredients. Feel free to substitute kale, spinach or sorrel (if you can find
it) for the chard, and leave the sausage out for a lighter soup.
Makes 4 servings
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 leeks, washed and thinly sliced
1 ½ teaspoons fennel seeds
1 large garlic clove, minced
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped
½ teaspoon salt
5 ½ cups chicken stock
1 ½ pounds small Yukon Gold potatoes,
sliced ¼-inch thick
6 ounces sweet Italian sausage or chicken
sausage
1 bunch red Swiss chard, cut crosswise
into thin strips (chiffonade)
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Freshly ground black pepper
1. In a large pot, heat the butter and
olive oil over medium heat until the butter is melted and foamy. Add the leeks
and fennel seeds and cook, stirring occasionally, until the leeks are softened,
about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and salt and cook for about a minute, stirring.
2. Add the sliced potatoes and broth and
bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook for
20 to 25 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.
3. Meanwhile, place a skillet on medium
heat. Remove the sausage from its casing and crumble the sausage into the
skillet. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sausage is lightly browned.
Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.
4. Remove the soup pot from the heat and
ladle about ½ cup of broth and potato slices into a blender. Put the lid on (so
you don’t get splashed with hot soup), and process until smooth. Pour the puree
back into the soup in the pot. Add the Swiss chard and cream to the soup,
return the pot to medium heat and allow to simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir in
the sausage, lemon juice and a few grinds of black pepper and adjust the
seasoning, if necessary.
