Description
Creamy potato soup delivers comfort in a bowl, perfect for chilly evenings. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a rich and satisfying meal that warms you from the inside out.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 medium russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced (about 5 cups)
- 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup milk (whole or 2%)
- 1 cup heavy cream
Flavor Enhancers:
- 4 slices bacon, diced (optional)
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for thickening)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Topping Ingredients:
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Sliced green onions or chives
- Sour cream
- Additional cooked bacon, crumbled
Instructions
- Render bacon in a spacious pot over medium temperature until golden and crisp, transferring the pieces onto a paper towel-lined plate while preserving the rendered fat.
- Introduce diced onions into the residual bacon drippings, sautéing until translucent and softened, then incorporate minced garlic and cook momentarily to release its aromatic essence.
- Cascade cubed potatoes into the seasoned foundation, complementing with chicken broth, fragrant thyme, and a balanced mixture of salt and pepper, then elevate to a rolling boil before reducing to a gentle simmer.
- Cover and allow the potatoes to tenderize, approximately 15-18 minutes, ensuring they’re fork-piercing soft but not disintegrating.
- Whisk flour and milk in a separate vessel until achieving a smooth, lump-free consistency, then fold this liaison into the simmering soup along with rich heavy cream.
- Continue simmering, stirring intermittently, permitting the liquid to thicken and develop a luxurious texture, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- For enhanced creaminess, utilize an immersion blender to partially pulverize the soup, maintaining some robust potato chunks for rustic appeal.
- Ladle the velvety soup into warming bowls, garnishing generously with sharp cheddar cheese, delicate green onion slivers, dollops of tangy sour cream, and the reserved crispy bacon fragments.
Notes
- Bacon Selection Matters: Choose thick-cut bacon for richer flavor and crispier texture, which elevates the overall soup experience.
- Potato Precision: Use starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon Gold for a perfect creamy consistency and smooth blending.
- Dairy-Free Adaptation: Swap heavy cream and milk with coconut milk or almond milk for a lactose-free version that maintains rich creaminess.
- Vegetarian Friendly: Replace bacon with smoked paprika or liquid smoke for depth, and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth to create a satisfying meatless alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg