Soup weather is officially here!
The days have been cold, wet and grey and since we were relying too much on this cheesy bowl of comfort, I decided to experiment with more soups this season. Like this super creamy and delicious Potato, Cauliflower and Leek Soup generously garnished with crispy bacon and shallots.
The weather also dictates for a good read and the book I just finished reading is a poignant drama ‘Like I Can Love’ by Australian author, Kim Lock.
My knowledge of Australian authors is slowly but steadily increasing especially when I signed up to do book reviews with Pan Macmillan Australia. I found it a great way to discover new authors and also expand my reading horizon considerably.
Set in South Australia, ‘Like I Can Love’ is a poignant, heartbreaking tale of two friends. The book is also an exploration of different kinds of love, the varying spectrums of this emotion which can be fragile, sacrificing and sometime destructive. It is a tale of how love can make us do the most unthinkable of things leaving a mark on our souls and lives forever.
Beautifully etched by Kim Lock, the book captures the essence of love and friendship amidst the background of South Australia. By the end of it, I felt that the characters are real almost becoming a part of my life, as if I have known them all my life. It is a simple book to read but one that is profound and beautifully written.
Kim Lock resides with her family in the Barossa Valley and hence there is ample evidence of the culture and lifestyle of regional Australia in her book. The book is gripping without being too heavy which makes it ideal if you are a fiction lover.
Let’s also simmer away a pot of this delicious soup before you get too engrossed in the book.
Just as the name suggests, this is a Potato, Cauliflower and Leek soup. I wanted more oomph and comfort which is why the shallots and bacon make an appearance, but if you are a crouton person, here is a delicious one you can try out.
Spices ofcourse are my thing but I am sure you agree that potatoes and cumin is a match made in heaven. So mildly spiced with bay leaf and cumin which adds so much more flavour to the soup. No extra cream in this one as I found that it is quite creamy from the potatoes and cauliflower but if you wish to, you can add a bit as garnish or at the end of the cooking process.
And of course, the crispy bacon and shallots……..yumm yumm yummmm!!
Potato, Cauliflower, Leek Soup
Ingredients
- 100 gms bacon; chopped
- 50 gms fried shallots
- 2 large potatoes; diced
- 1 small cauliflower head; cut into florets
- 1 leek; finely sliced
- 3 dried bay leaf
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 2 medium garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp butter
- Salt to season
- Freshly milled black pepper to season
- 1 litre homemade chicken stock
Instructions
- In a deep pan, add the bacon pieces and fry on low heat. No extra oil required as the bacon has enough fat which will render down and crisp it up.
- Once the bacon pieces have browned and crisped up well, remove and drain on a kitchen towel. Keep aside.
- In the same pan, heat butter and add the bay leaf and cumin. Cook on low heat till the spices are fragrant and then add the garlic and leeks. Sauté for about 2 minutes on medium heat but take care not to burn.
- Next add the potatoes and cauliflower florets; season with salt (remember the stock has salt) and pepper. Mix well to combine and cook on low heat for about 2 minutes.
- Add ¾ ths of the stock, check seasoning and bring to boil. Turn the heat down and cook covered till the vegetables are softened and cooked through.
- Cool slightly and blitz till creamy. Add more stock if too thick.
- Serve warm with crispy bacon and shallots.
- Slurp it up!
Notes
Pssst….I am having this soup second day in a row with a few drops of Tabasco hot sauce in it. Try it guys if you can take some heat!
Disclaimer – Not a sponsored post but the book was sent to me by Pan Macmillan Australia.
This looks so amazing! I am loving the crunchy bacon and shallots on top – makes it extra special
Thanks dear. True, shallots and bacon add a nice texture and crunch to the creaminess of the potato and cauliflower
Yum I’m right into soups at the moment and have all the ingredients. Thanks so much for linking it up to YWF too.
You have a great link up going Vicki; lots of inspiration there. And hope you enjoy the soup too.
Yum!!! The perfect combination ?
Thanks deear; life’s much better with bacon!
This looks delicious – your images are perfect. (Emailing it to hubby as a dinner request)
Thanks Lisa for your encouraging words. Awesome; its simple to make so I am sure your hubby would delight you with it and ofcourse, its got bacon to make everyone happy.
Mouthwatering. Love a good soup in winter and the spicier the better. Will definitely try with the hot sauce.
Awesome…..I really enjoyed it with the hot sauce so do try it out with a dash of it.
The additional flavours like the bacon, shallots and cumin, etc make this soup sound tasty. Sometimes potato and cauliflower can be bland. Not this recipe.
Visiting from the Friday link up.
Fran @travelgenee from the TravelGenee Blog
Thanks Fran. I felt the same too hence went with the cumin. And ofcourse, bacon makes all good.
Yum, this sounds delicious! Definitely great for those cooler days.
Lennae xxx
http://www.lennaesworld.com
Thanks so much Lennae; a big fan of soups for winter.
You are so right, it’s nearly soup time, this looks gorgeous,
And…
I love your pics, what background do you use? I’d love to know, it looks beautiful.
Thanks for the book review, I’m a fiction kind of girl and this looks right up my alley. Xx
Thanks so much Sarah….dont ask me about backgrounds, I go a little crazy often. The bottom bit is a random black wooden board that I picked up from the construction site next to my building. Then on one side is the back side of a cheese platter and the behind is my couch.
I want to have this soup too! I’ll try to find the ingredients in the fridge. And the book sounds interesting. I might as well try reading it too.
Awesome; hope you enjoy it as much as I did.