A staple of the Moscovore household lineup, this soup is flexible, incredibly delicious and amazingly good for you.
What’s not to love?
I should come up with a better name for this, but as it was the only soup my daughter Velvet would eat for many years, the name has become part of our family lore. Also, I hesitate to start introducing ingredients into it since they tend to change depending on what is in the fridge and what was at the market.
The basis for Green Soup’s flavor and texture are more leeks than you think you need, slowly caramelized with salt and nutmeg, then other green vegetables such as zucchini, broccoli, celery, celery root simmered in a light chicken or vegetable stock. At the end, just before pureeing the soup in the blender, I add a ton of fresh young spinach and herbs. This seals in the freshness, the nutrients, and gives it that irresistible minty green color!
This freezes beautifully, is good hot or cold, and can be jazzed up with cream or skim milk depending on your needs.
Green Soup
Ingredients
2 liters (2 quarts) Chicken Stock (if you would like to make this soup vegetarian, substitute vegetable stock.)
4 large leeks (washed carefully to remove all of the grit*)
2 zucchini (topped and tailed. If the zucchini are young, there is no need to seed them or remove the core, but if they are large and possibly out of season, take the time to remove them.)
2 ribs celery
1 liter (1 quart) fresh spinach (washed and stemmed)
15 ml (1 Tbl) nutmeg
1 bunch dill
1 bunch parsley
30 ml (2 Tbl) butter
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Optional Ingredients
1 fennel bulb (cleaned and sliced thinly)
1 head broccoli (remove the florets, peel the stem and slice into thin rings.)
cauliflower
Directions
Place a heavy-bottomed pot or the stoneware of a slow cooker over moderate heat. Melt the butter until it is just bubbling, then add the leeks. Toss gently with a wooden spoon to ensure all of the leeks make contact with the butter. Cook down until the leeks are caramelized (slightly browned, reduced in size and volume, and slippery.) Add the nutmeg and cook for another minute.
Raise the heat slightly and add the diced celery. If you’ve elected to use celery root and/or fennel, add them as well. Cook, stirring periodically for 5 minutes.
Add the zucchini and, if you’ve decided to use it, the broccoli and cook for an additional five minutes.
Add the chicken stock. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the toughest vegetable is soft when you poke it with a fork. Remove from heat.
Prepare a blender and a large mixing bowl. Add the spinach, dill, and parsley to the warm soup and stir briefly to combine. Test and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper and more nutmeg. Working in small batches, puree the soup in the blender to your desired consistency. Take care to place a dishcloth over the top of the blender to avoid spillage. You can use a food processor or Thermomix to puree as well.
If you are making the soup ahead of time, or planning to freeze it, allow it to cool, uncovered, to room temperature. Freeze the soup before you add any dairy. If you plan to jazz it up, return soup to the pot and place on low heat. Gently reheat, then add milk or cream or a dollop of soup cream. Garish with more fresh parsley or chopped chives.
Notes:
My friend Cordelia says some curry powder adds a good flavor to this soup, but HRH (my “Handsome Russian Husband”) and Velvet hate curry, so I’ve only done this a few times, but if you are more adventurous than they are, by all means try it! Cordelia knows what she is about in the kitchen.
This is good cold, but it should have a dairy element to really shine.
This is a great brown bag or on the road soup to put in a thermos. I never ever go to a horse show (I go to a lot – Velvet is obsessed) without one.
Serve, and enjoy!
Variations:
My friend Cordelia says some curry powder adds a good flavor to this soup, but HRH (my “Handsome Russian Husband”) and Velvet hate curry, so I’ve only done this a few times, but if you are more adventurous than they are, by all means try it! Cordelia knows what she is about in the kitchen.
This is good cold, but it should have a dairy element to really shine.
This is a great brown bag or on the road soup to put in a thermos. I never ever go to a horse show (I go to a lot – Velvet is obsessed) without one.
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Making the soup (with Katya’s help!). How much of the green tops of the leeks do you use? Also, do you peel the zucchini? I did but now wonder if necessary. What do you do? You didnt say how finely to chop the leeks. I cut them in chunks thinking that I’m puréeing them so size is not so important. But the carmelization process took some time. What do you do?
The soup is smelling great. Will have a nice hot bowl after our Christmas shopping on Stariy Arbat! Its a good day today.
Looks delicious Jennifer – and who knows, maybe my children will even eat it! (Although that WOULD mean I would have to share, so…)
Gorgeous color and it sounds amazing!
Jennifer
Making the soup (with Katya’s help!). How much of the green tops of the leeks do you use? Also, do you peel the zucchini? I did but now wonder if necessary. What do you do? You didnt say how finely to chop the leeks. I cut them in chunks thinking that I’m puréeing them so size is not so important. But the carmelization process took some time. What do you do?
The soup is smelling great. Will have a nice hot bowl after our Christmas shopping on Stariy Arbat! Its a good day today.
Thanks for the blog.
Elizabeth.