Chunky Potato Leek Soup Recipe (2024)

ByEdyta

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Chunky Potato Leek Soup with sliced potatoes, leeks, onions, rice and cheese, is far and away the best potato leek soup recipe that I’ve ever tried.

Chunky Potato Leek Soup Recipe (1)

Why is this Chunky Potato Leek Soup special

This Chunky Potato Leek Soup is very special to me, and I have been making it for about 20 years now. I love soups in general, but I make this chunky potato leek as often as I can because it is super delicious. Perhaps the best endorsem*nt is that even my picky 4 year old likes it.

It was about the time when I was graduating high school when I came across this recipe in the Polish edition of ELLE Magazine. It was called ‘French Potato Leek Soup’ and it looked so good that I needed to give it a try.

I followed the recipe precisely and I wasn’t disappointed by the amazing combination of flavors. I had been accustomed to Polish soups like this Traditional Polish Dill Pickle Soup, and the French Potato Leek was something totally different. It was love at first bite.

Chunky Potato Leek Soup Recipe (2)

Ingredients needed to make this potato leek soup

I don’t remember if what I’m making right now is exactly the same in terms of the amount of each ingredient, but for sure it contains the same ingredients:

  • Potatoes;
  • Leeks;
  • Onions;
  • Parsley;
  • Rice;
  • Cheese;
  • Butter;
  • Chicken stock or water ( I like using stock as it gives a lot more flavor, but you can also use vegetable stock);
  • Salt & pepper, to taste.

How is this soup made

The vegetables are first sautéed in butter, until soft and slightly caramelized. This is a fundamental difference from the way soups were made when I was growing up – we would take a huge pot of water and add some kind of meat bones, then veggies, spices, etc, and let it simmer for a while. But sautéing leeks and onions develops an amazing sweet flavor that sets this Chunky Potato Leek Soup for a huge success.

I bet the surprising part of this soup is the rice. I know, I was surprised too when I saw it for the first time; but then once I made it I realized that it actually really compliments the soup. It makes it a little bit thicker and heartier.

But then at the end the cheese comes over to take this humble potato leek soup to a new level. The cheese melts into the broth and tastes incredible! I like using Gruyere like in this Broccoli Au Gratin, as I love it’s nutty flavor. But I think that a Cheddar or Moderate Jack would work just fine; it needs to be finely shredded though.

Chunky Potato Leek Soup Recipe (3)

Although the magazine called this potato leek soup “French,” it seems to be closely related to a classic Potage Parmentier or Vichyssoise. It doesn’t contain any cream, milk or flour, though. And most importantly, it isn’t blended. But I guess the combination of potatoes + leeks is French, so this chunky potato leek soup recipe can be called French too, because…why not?

How to adjust this recipe

Anyhow, you can make the following adjustments to your liking here:

  • You can make it vegan, by substituting butter for olive oil, and omitting the cheese;
  • You can add bacon bits on top (I bet that’ll taste super good);
  • You can actually add cream if you’d like, or milk or coconut milk if your desire is to have a creamy soup;
  • You can even blend it or blend part of it. Even though it’ll lose it’s “chunky” charisma, it will still be delicious (as a matter of fact, I needed to separate part of this soup for my 4 year old & blend it for him, otherwise he wouldn’t eat the chunks.. oh well).

It’s still super cold here in New York and all I crave these days is a super warm soup. In fact, I’m going to get myself another bowl of this wonderful Chunky Potato Leek Soup. If you make it, let me know how you liked it.

Chunky Potato Leek Soup Recipe (4)

Chunky Potato Leek Soup Recipe (5)

Chunky Potato Leek Soup Recipe

Chunky Potato Leek Soup with sliced potatoes, leeks, onions, rice and cheese, is far and away the best potato leek soup recipe that I've ever tried.

5 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Soup

Cuisine: French

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 247kcal

Author: Edyta

Ingredients

  • 1 Vidalia Onion chopped
  • 3 Leeks medium, white and pale green parts chopped
  • 2 Potatoes medium size, red or yellow, sliced
  • 1/3 cup Fresh Parsley chopped
  • 1/3 cup Rice Basmati or Jasmin
  • 1/2 cup Cheese Gruyere, Cheddar, or Moderate Jack, thinly shredded
  • 5 cups Chicken Stock Or Vegetable Stock or Water
  • 2 tbsp Butter

Instructions

  • In a large soup pot like dutch oven or other heavy pan, melt butter and add chopped onions with leeks. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally;

  • Add sliced potatoes and chopped parsley, cover the pot and cook for another 5 minutes;

  • Add stock or water, cover and cook for about 15 minutes;

  • Add rice and cook for another 15-20 minutes until the rice is cooked;

  • Turn off the soup, add thinly shredded cheese and mix well, allowing the cheese to melt into the broth;

  • Check for seasoning, add salt and pepper as needed;

  • Serve with some more fresh parsley and drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Notes

If using water as opposed to chicken or vegetable stock, you can add a teaspoon of salt to the soup. I normally go low on salt because the cheese is salty and seasons the soup pretty well. I would adjust salt and pepper at the end of cooking once the cheese is incorporated into the broth.

Nutrition

Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 397mg | Potassium: 539mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1235IU | Vitamin C: 16.8mg | Calcium: 129mg | Iron: 3mg

Tried this recipe?Show me @eatingeuropean or tag #eatingeuropean!

Read about the author Edyta here or follow Eating European on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.

[mc4wp_form id=”6774″]

Other recipes using Potatoes and Leeks:

  • Potato Leek Casserole
  • Creamy Spinach Soup with Parmesan Croutons
  • Potato Leek and Feta Pie

Chunky Potato Leek Soup Recipe (6)

If you like this recipe, you may also like these amazing soups recipes:

Chunky Potato Leek Soup Recipe (7)

Tomatoes Red Lentils Coconut Soup

Chunky Potato Leek Soup Recipe (8)

Greek Lentils Soup with Feta – Fakes

Chunky Potato Leek Soup Recipe (9)

Greek Chickpea Soup – Revithosoupa

Chunky Potato Leek Soup Recipe (10)

Get new posts direct to your inbox...

Chunky Potato Leek Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to thicken leek and potato soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

Why is my leek and potato soup bland? ›

The reasons are usually two: you didn't season your soup at all, worrying it might be too salty because of the leeks; or you added to much water for the stock. If you follow our instructions, and taste before serving, you can easily add a little more salt and pepper to make your soup even tastier.

Why is my potato leek soup gummy? ›

Why is my potato leek soup gummy? Potatoes should be diced in similar size so they cook evenly, but don't drive yourself crazy getting them teeny-tiny. If they're too small, you risk the potatoes releasing too much starch, which can make the soup gummy when pureed.

What is potato leek soup made of? ›

To make this soup, cook chopped leeks in a little butter, then add diced potatoes, stock, and herbs. Bring it all to a simmer, and cook until the potatoes are done, about 20 minutes. Purée the soup using a blender to get a creamy consistency.

What is the best thickening agent for potato soup? ›

Cornstarch. Cornstarch is a very effective thickener, and a little bit can go a long way.

Why does my leek and potato soup taste bitter? ›

Add the leeks to the pot, lowering the heat if necessary and saute for 10-15 minutes , or until soft and translucent. Be careful not to burn the leeks, as they will impart a bitter taste to the soup. The excess liquid from cleaning the leeks should help prevent any burning.

How do I increase the depth of flavor in soup? ›

Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.

How to stop leek and potato soup from being gloopy? ›

Potato-Leek Soup v2.

For an extra-smooth soup, press it through a chinois or a fine mesh strainer using the bottom of a ladle. Sure, it's the gluier than its pressed brother, but as I said, sometimes that really doesn't bother me.

Why has my potato and leek soup gone brown? ›

It looks as though some of your potatoes might have got a bit scorched. Did you fry them off before adding the liquid? The colour from the browned potatoes could be what is turning it brown.

Why does my potato soup have no flavor? ›

Perhaps the simplest approach is to flavor your soup with salt throughout the cooking process. Instead of waiting until the end of cooking to realize your soup lacks taste, you can add a bit of salt during each phase of cooking. Doing so will help bring out the flavors of each of the ingredients.

What if potato and leek soup is too thick? ›

If you like yours chunkier, then don't blend it as much. If you like thinner soup, add water or broth until it's the desired consistency. McDougallers can just omit the oil and watch for sticking leeks. You don't have to worry about sputtering oil.

What was Julia Child's favorite soup? ›

Soup was one of Julia Child's favorite things to eat, and reportedly, her absolute favorite was vichyssoise. Leek and potato soup, known as potage parmentier in French, is a classic base soup recipe. What sets vichyssoise apart is the addition of cream—and the fact that it is traditionally served chilled.

Can you substitute onions for leeks in potato leek soup? ›

Lastly, the most common substitute for leeks is the ultimate kitchen staple; onions. White and sweet onions are the best alternatives for leeks, due to their mild flavor.

What is a good substitute for leeks in soup? ›

Of all the substitutes for leeks, the closest in taste and texture are vegetables in the allium or onion family. Ramps, green onions, spring onions, shallots and sweet onions are the best options to replace leeks in your recipe.

What to do if my potato soup is too watery? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

How can I thicken watery soup? ›

6 Ways to Thicken Soups or Stews
  1. Puree the vegetables. The most straightforward way to thicken soup is to puree the vegetables. ...
  2. Mash beans, lentils, rice, or bread. ...
  3. Add some dairy. ...
  4. Add an egg. ...
  5. Whisk in a bit of flour or starch. ...
  6. Blend in some silken tofu.
Nov 15, 2021

How do you thicken leeks? ›

To produce the thickest, white leek stems, most gardeners blanch the veggies. To blanch leeks, simply build up a hill around the stalks as they develop. It's best to begin this process by seeding into a trench and then gradually fill it in and continue to mound with soil as the leeks grow.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Greg O'Connell

Last Updated:

Views: 5865

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Greg O'Connell

Birthday: 1992-01-10

Address: Suite 517 2436 Jefferey Pass, Shanitaside, UT 27519

Phone: +2614651609714

Job: Education Developer

Hobby: Cooking, Gambling, Pottery, Shooting, Baseball, Singing, Snowboarding

Introduction: My name is Greg O'Connell, I am a delightful, colorful, talented, kind, lively, modern, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.