Mushroom and Spinach Soup
Shiitake is a mushroom that is very flavorful and gives its dish a ‘classy’ presentation. This recipe is very easy to make and won’t need much of your time, though you need to soak the mushrooms beforehand. Sauté everything, add a thickener and add the stock and you’ve got soup!
Yields: Makes 6 servings
Ingredients:
3 tablespoon butter
4 tablespoon Flour
2 med onions, chopped
2 cloves Garlic, minced
6 Shitake mushrooms, minced
3 onion leeks, chopped Spinach leaves, cut Chiffonade Salt and Pepper
8 cups Chicken stock Croutons
Method of Preparation: Soak your mushroom 1 hour before cooking. Do not discard the liquid. In a saucepan, heat the butter and sauté the onions and garlic but do not brown. Add flour and pour in the chicken stock and the liquid from the soaked mushrooms. Add minced shiitake mushrooms and bring to a boil. Once it has thickened, add the Spinach and immediately turn off the heat. . 3. Upon serving, put some chopped onion leeks and croutons if desired.
Creamy Spinach Soup
This hearty recipe is traditional for family gatherings or supper. Growing up as a child, this is one of the comfort food I love best. Its chunkiness is filling, its creaminess is satisfying…you won’t even need a main course to fill you up.
Yields: Serves 6.
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoon flour
8 cups chicken stock
1 medium onion, finely chopped Boiled potatoes, coarsely mashed
1 stalk celery, finely chopped Fresh Spinach, washed
1/2 cup heavy cream Salt Ground Pepper Garlic French Bread Garlic French Bread
3 French Bread slices
3 tablespoons butter, Garlic, minced Parsley, chopped
Method of Preparation: Garlic French Bread 1. Mix 3 tablespoons butter, garlic, and parsley in a container and spread to French bread slices. Put in the oven for 7-10 minutes until toasted. Soup 2. In a saucepan, mix in butter and sauté onions until caramelized over medium heat. Add in flour stirring constantly and pour in chicken stock 3. Add the potatoes and celery, simmer for 5 mins 4. Pour in heavy cream and simmer another for 3 minutes. 5. Adjust consistency by adding flour into cold water (if needed) to make the soup thicker. 6. Add the spinach leaves. 7. Adjust Salt and pepper to taste. 8. Serve with Garlic French Bread
Pureed Potato, Spinach & Leek Soup
Potato serves as a thickening agent when pureed. When done in an immersion blender, it will give such a smooth and creamy outcome when blended thoroughly. Added leeks and the sherry wine would give a twist to this all-time favorite family recipe.
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 onion, cut into
1/2-inch pieces
3 garlic cloves, minced
5 small potatoes, peeled and cut into
1/2-inch pieces
1/4 cup dry sherry or white wine
2 cans of chicken broth
1 cup of water
2 bunches spinach, leaves rinsed Leeks, washed and chopped Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Method of Preparation: Heat butter in a saucepan. Add onion, garlic, and potatoes. Pour in sherry wine to evaporate the alcohol then pour in Chicken stock. Simmer for 10 minutes until potatoes are very tender Stir in Spinach for 1 minute and put contents in a food processor. Puree everything working in batches so as not to spill anything. Return mixture in the saucepan to the season with salt and pepper. Adjust according to taste. Garnish with some remaining leeks then serve.
Spinach and Onion soup with Tomato Crostini
A restaurant-style soup can be done in the comforts of your home in no time. The Tomato Crostini adds a little ‘spice’ to this traditional soup and adds color to it. Most often, the crostini is served floating in the soup which makes it more exciting.
Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients:
4 ¼ cup (1 liter) vegetable stock
1 oz (30 g) butter 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 large onions, thinly sliced
1 tsp sugar
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1-liter vegetable stock
4 oz (115 g) broccoli, finely chopped
4 oz (115 g) spinach leaves, cut chiffonade salt, and pepper Tomato Crostini
8 thick slices of French bread 1 garlic clove, halved
2 tsp tomato purée
2 tomatoes, each cut into
8 wedges 1 oz (30 g) Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Method of Preparation: Prepare bread slices by spreading the tomato puree on the bread. Rub garlic to induce flavor and place tomato slices on top before sprinkling Parmesan cheese. Grill in a pan until the bread is toasted. Heat butter and olive oil in a saucepan and sauté onions until transparent. Add in sugar and sauté a little bit more until onions are caramelized. Pour in vegetable stock and stir. Bring to a boil before adding the Broccoli. Once Broccoli is tender, add in the Spinach and simmer for 1 more minute. Float the Crostini before serving in a soup bowl.