Healthy Vichyssoise (Crock Pot Potato Leek Soup)
Our Crock Pot Potato Leek Soup is brings a healthy twist to the classic French Vichyssoise soup. It is the perfect, easy and healthy dinner recipe for a cool winter night.
French Vichyssoise
When we decided to make a potato soup with some french herbs and a leek, little did we know that we were re-creating a healthy version of a classic French Vichyssoise soup.
Vichyssoise is a thick soup made from pureed leeks, onions and potatoes with cream and chicken stock. It is most commonly served cold, but can be served hot.
While attributed to the French, it is really quite the topic of debate whether this is really French in origin or if it is an American invention. Many sources attribute it to a French chef in New York adapting a dish from his childhood.
Vichyssoise or Potage?
A Vichyssoise is a basic "Potage Parmentier", but the Potage can also contain other vegetables not typically found in the lightly colored Vichyssoise.
Literally translated, a 'potage' is a category of thick soups or stews. These can be made from any number of vegetables and were a common first course or peasant meal.
Mr Antoine-Augustin Parmentier, was the main promoter of potatoes as a food staple in France. He worked so hard to promote potatoes, that he got a couple of dishes named after him: a pureed potato 'potage' being one of them. (If the potatoes are left un-pureed the dish becomes Potage Parisien.)
Our Crock Pot Potato Leek Soup
Leeks are the perfect addition to a potato soup because their flavor is more subtle than onions. The light flavor pairs perfectly with the light starchyness of of potatoes, giving the soup something different than your classic creamy potato soup.
We've lightened up the traditional French vichyssoise by omitting the cream. (You could add a splash or two as you're pureeing the soup if you would like a bit of an extra creamy taste.) And, our soup takes on an interesting green hue (rather than the traditional pale color of a vichyssoise) because we used all of the leek, the white and green parts. (We just can't bear throwing good leek parts away!)
The French herbs like tarragon, thyme and savory bring a deep herbyness to this potato leek soup, and they pair wonderfully with the onion flavor of the leeks. (And they help turn the soup the fun herby green!)
Even without using cream, the onions and herbs make this potato soup a delicious rendition of the French classic.
It is perfect for a lighter, but still hearty and warming dish that will fill you up, but not leave you feeling heavy. And, since we've made it in the crock pot, you can set this soup and forget about it. Giving you something to look forward to at the end of a long day!
French Potato Leek Soup
Ingredients
- 6 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 small leek, cleaned and chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 ½ teaspoon tarragon
- 1 ½ teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
- ¼ teaspoon savory
- 4 c water
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a 3 qt slow cooker. Cook 6-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high. Blend until smooth with a stick blender or food processer.
- Serve with crusty French bread.
Nutrition
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Sarah founded Curious in 2010 as a way to save her recipe creations and share culinary experiences. Her love for cultural cuisines was instilled early by her French Canadian Grandmother. Her experience in the kitchen and in recipe development comes from over 10 years working in professional kitchens. She has traveled extensively and enjoys bringing the flavors of her travels back to create easy-to-make recipes.
Leeks and Potatoes sound like an amazing combination!