The aftermath of a huge turkey dinner is the inevitable leftover turkey dishes for the next few days. I am amazed at how creative some of you are in using up all that good meat. Julie of Mommie Cooks, a wonderful mom of three boys, has a recipe on Turkey Goulash. This noodle dish with spices sounds absolutely delicious. I may have to use some of my leftover turkey meat to try out her recipe.
Unless I have company on Thanksgiving, I usually get the smallest bird I can find – one that is about 10 to 12 pounds in size. Even then, there is plenty of meat leftover. I usually freeze the meat and make my boys’ favorite turkey potpies at a later time. The carcass is never thrown away until after every ounce of goodness is milked out. It goes into a large stock pot and after 2 to 3 hours, I get 10 cups of flavorful stock enough for two pots of delicious soup.
One of my favorite soups with turkey stock is leek and potato soup. This creamy and peppery soup makes a wonderful lunch and is a cinch to prepare. With a flavorful stock, few ingredients are needed. Topped with spicy and peppery watercress, this bowl of goodness is much welcomed on a cold day. The idea of using watercress came from The Splendid Table.
Leek and Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 3 medium leeks (about 1 lb/450g)
- 3 tbsp butter (55g)
- 4 Russet potatoes (peeled and cubed) (about 1¼ lbs/560g)
- 5 cups chicken stock or turkey stock(1.2 liters)
- Salt to taste
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- 1 cup half-and-half or cream (240ml)
- A small bunch of watercress (rinsed and drained)
Instructions
- Trim off the tough green portions of leeks. Halve lengthwise and rinse under cold running water to
- get rid of grit and sand. Slice finely crosswise.
- In a large pot, melt butter. Add leeks and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes.
- Add potatoes and stock. Bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are very tender and falling apart, about 30 minutes. Turn off heat and puree with immersion blender until smooth.
- Stir in half and half or cream and top with watercress.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Gearing up for the next celebration…..
Is your Christmas tree up yet? We normally put it up after the Thanksgiving dinner. This year we have decided to use purple and silver baubles and ribbons to decorate the tree.
We collect Nativity sets and this is a delightful Navajo one in our collection.
I am sending this to Deb of Kahakai Kitchen for her weekly Souper Sundays event.
Enjoy…..and have a wonderful day! 😎
Namitha says
Biren, That’s a wonderful soup and the pot is so very pretty…
Your X’mas decor is spectacular
eatgreek.net says
this soup loos delicious and light…. 😀
Anncoo says
Biren, that’s a comforting soup and I usually add English leek and onion in the soup. The turkey stock will use for congee.
The pot is very pretty too.
Biren says
I have never tried turkey congee. Maybe I should try making it with lots of ginger. Sounds very good.
Magic of Spice says
What a beautiful soup Biren, and I adore that soup pot 🙂
Your tree looks so wonderful, we wait until the 13th to do our tree as part of my oldest sons B Day celebration.
Biren says
How fun to celebrate your son’s birthday with the tree trimming 🙂
Roxan says
Turkey stock, that sounds delicious. And this soup looks delicious as well. I also love the tree, it goes all the way up to the ceiling! you must have the most wonderful christmases… It’s very different for me here in LA. Mild winter, and our place is so teeny tiny that we have no room for a tree. I may get a small one from Trader Joes to put on our dining table though.
By the way, is that a shun chef’s knife I see there? i have one also! My sister got it for me for my birthday this year. i absolutely love it.
Biren says
Yes Roxan, that’s a Shun Nakiri. I am in the process of upgrading my knives and I absolutely love the Shun’s Damascus steel or Damascus steel like blades. I also have one of their scalloped utility knife which is absolutely gorgeous. 🙂
whatsfordinneracrossstatelines says
I’m jealous, your tree is already up! I love potato leek soup and I must say I really love that colorful bowl.
-Gina-
lequan says
I absolutely love that pot/bowl that you have your soup in, it’s so beautiful! A beautiful bowl for a lovely soup. I love how simple this soup is too. I’ve actually never had any kind of leek soup before. Kind of intrigued by how this soup would taste. I’m sure it’s delicious, like everything else you make.
Gorgeous tree, Biren!!!! Our thanksgiving is in October so we usually put up our tree after remembrance day.
Lyndsey says
Potato leek soup is one of my favorites too. Yours looks wonderful, and I wish I had my bowl full of it right now. Great photos, your bowls or crocks are beautiful!
We don’t have our tree up yet. For some reason it’s hard to get in the mood for tree shopping when it is in the 80’s. But wee are supposed to be cooler this week in the 70’s.
Biren says
My goodness Lyndsey, 80 degrees is a heat wave! Today’s high for us here is only 19 degrees….brrrr!
Cristina - TeenieCakes says
Hi Biren – I’ve been wanting to try and make my own leek soup. I bought leeks weeks ago and never used it (one of those sad stories) Truth be told, I’ve never worked with leeks – thanks for including how to use them. Have a great week my friend! 🙂
Julie M. says
Hi my friend! Thanks so much for the shout out! I have to say, this soup looks absolutely perfect it every way. I’m a huge fan of all soup, but I particularly love a good cream based soup. I also love The Splendid Table; Lynne really knows her stuff!
Biren says
You are so welcomed Julie. You know I love your site and your family friendly recipes 🙂
Faith says
What a gorgeous Christmas tree, Biren! I love it! Mmmm, I also love your soup…this is one of my all-time favorites. Your little soup pots are adorable!
Jillyann says
Hi Biren…I haven’t been on for several weeks so I hope you and your family had a nice Thanksgiving. The soup looks marvelous and I LOVE the goregous bowls. Pretty Christmas tree as well.
tigerfish says
Another delicious comfort soup for winter!
Devaki @ weavethousandflavors says
OMG Biren, That’s a wonderful wonderful tree and that soup is equally spectacular. I adore your decorations!
Ciao, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
Zoe says
Very beautiful decorations. The soup looks so comforting for the chilly weather.
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time says
Oh yum! I have everything that I need for this; even the turkey stock. I’m in such a soup mood that I wish it wasn’t so late or I’d make it now so it can sit overnight before I eat it and just get better. Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe Biren!
love2cook says
Leek and potato soup sounds really healthy! Gorgeous Christmas tree! I always admire them…;)
Rumana says
Love the recipe:)
Angie's Recipes says
Biren, you have some really cool stoneware and dinnerware!
X’mas tree looks awesome! How nice would it be to enjoy a bowl of hot and creamy soup sitting in front of the window and watching the snow falling….
penny aka jeroxie says
wow. you are in the christmas mood! pretty golden tree.
Brownieville Girl says
LOVE the tree, I also love the idea of collecting Nativity Sets – what a great idea.
Your soup looks lovely and warming – we have heavy snow here so a big bowl would be appreciated!
torviewtoronto says
one of my favourite soups yours looks wonderful
Sommer @ A Spicy Perspective says
One of the things I’m most excited about after Thanksgiving is turkey stock! This is a fantastic soup. I bet if someone didn’t have turkey stock, they could use there ham bone!
Nancy/SpicieFoodie says
What a great soup, looks delicious. It’s great that you get every last use of the turkey and make so many delicious meals from it. Your tree looks so beautiful, we haven’t gotten ours up yet and we should soon.
Evan @swEEts says
I can’t get enough of soup this year! I’ve never actually had leeks, but I love potato soup so I would only imagine I would love this soup too! By the way your tree is gorgeous! We’re waiting to get ours this weekend.
5 Star Foodie says
Perfectly delicious looking leek and potato soup! I really love the gorgeous bowl you serve it in!
Nutmeg Nanny says
This looks great! I love leek and potato soup. I haven’t had it in forever though…I need to get on that!
denise @ quickies on the dinner table says
Hi Biren
I have a special fondness for leek and potato soup as it’s the first French soup I ever learned to cook as a young chef in training. Looking at your tureen full of soup brings back so many funny memories 😀 It looks wonderful in that beautiful tureen!
Your tree is dazzling and your nativity set is adorable! I used to make my own nativity scenes but just don’t have the energy anymore….
Couscous & Consciousness says
Yum – leek and potato is probably my favourite soup, along with pea and ham – stock made from the turkey carcass would make this especially good. Love that beautiful tureen you have too.
Sue 🙂
Pachecopatty says
Biren your soup looks so good in that lovely bowl with the watercress on top. I make potato leek soup at least once a month and I agree that the stock makes for such a flavorful soup. Your tree is beautiful and if I’m ever home long enough I’m going to put one up! Best wishes, Patty
Shirley says
What a beautiful pot and soup!
Joanne says
Leek and potato is one of my absolute favorite soups. The buttery leeks with the starchy potatoes. OH how delicious.
MaryMoh says
I love turkey. The whole turkey is just too intimidating 😛 I always go for the huge drumsticks or mince. Great to top noodles or in congee. Love your soup and the pot too.
Tanantha @ I Just Love My Apron says
What an interesting combination, Biren! Now I want a immersion blender for a Xmas gift! sigh…
Your Christmas tree is beautiful! Tall and bright.
DebinHawaii says
I am so happy you joined in Souper Sundays this week. I hope you come back soon. I love potato-leek soup and this one look delicious–love the soup pot too. 😉