Potato Leek Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why does my leek and potato soup taste bitter? ›

One common cause is overcooked or burnt leeks. Leeks, like onions, can become bitter if they're cooked for too long or at too high a heat.

Why is my potato leek soup gummy? Potatoes should be diced in similar size so they cook evenly, but don't drive yourself crazy getting them teeny-tiny. If they're too small, you risk the potatoes releasing too much starch, which can make the soup gummy when pureed.

Most likely, your potato leek soup tastes bland because you haven't added enough salt throughout the cooking process. Potatoes LOVE salt at every opportunity. Season them before roasting to really bring out their flavor. If you season only at the end, your soup will just taste salty — not flavorful.

Sear or roast your potatoes to prevent gummy soup

Searing or roasting your potatoes does more than just add extra flavor to your soup. It can actually prevent your broth from becoming gluey.

Onions, artichokes, garlic and leeks all contain fructans – carbs that can cause gas and bloating.

It looks as though some of your potatoes might have got a bit scorched. Did you fry them off before adding the liquid? The colour from the browned potatoes could be what is turning it brown.

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute.

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

However, if you've already made the soup then dilute the onion flavor by adding more of the broth used in the soup, and more vegetables. If the soup has carrots in it, the sugar of the carrots can help offset the onion. Then simmer the soup until it reduces to the consistency you like, and it should help.

Brown or Sear the Meat

If you are adding meat to a soup, sear or brown it in a sauté pan before you add it to the soup. This adds a deeper savory flavor to the whole soup. This trick is especially useful for things like chicken and sausage, which can sometimes get bland and rubbery while floating in a brothy soup.

Is it OK to reheat leek and potato soup? ›

Reheat the soup to a gentle simmer (add some extra stock at this point if the soup is too thick for your liking), then pour into warmed bowls. Drizzle the remaining cream over each serving, top with a little pile of buttered leeks and a scattering of chives and black pepper and serve at once.

Not Adding Acid. If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

It turns out, then, that contrary to internet opinion, it is possible to redeem your potato leek soup if somehow it becomes gluey. Ladle some into a freezer bag, freeze it flat, thaw it, and pour off the water.

Should I soak my potatoes before making soup? You don't have to soak them, but I do recommend doing so in cold water at least until you've finished cubing all the potatoes. This will keep them from turning brown and ugly.

Can I leave the peel on for potato soup? Yes! You don't need to peel the potatoes for this potato soup recipe. The skin will help the potatoes keep their shape and prevent them from getting too mushy.

Tips to Remove a Bitter Taste

Mix in a little bit of sugar to hide the bitterness. Add a pinch of salt to a bitter dish. Sprinkle in a pinch of baking soda. Add acidic flavors to the dish, like lemon juice or vinegar.

Too Bitter

The Fix: Balance bitter flavors by introducing something salty, sweet, or sour.

Pour in hot boiling water, stir and let it sit for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, remove the leaves from the hot salty water and transfer them into cold water. This process blanches the leaves and removes the bitterness. Most people use this method when they want the leaves to be stringy after washing.

While they're perfectly edible, the dark green part of a leek is typically tougher, chewier, and more bitter than the lighter green and white pieces of the vegetable.