Easy Jamie Oliver Potato And Leek Soup With Bacon Recipe

Potato leek soup transforms humble ingredients into a comforting culinary experience that warms you from the inside out.

Cold days demand hearty meals that celebrate simple, robust flavors and nourishing textures.

Kitchen magic happens when earthy leeks mingle with starchy potatoes, creating a velvety base that whispers of rustic charm.

Crispy bacon introduces a smoky dimension that elevates the entire dish beyond ordinary soup expectations.

Professional chefs and home cooks appreciate how these ingredients blend seamlessly into a rich, satisfying meal.

Each spoonful carries memories of grandmother’s cooking, connecting you to generations of traditional recipe wisdom.

A touch of cream adds luxurious smoothness, transforming basic ingredients into something extraordinary: savor this delicious comfort.

Why You’ll Love This Potato & Leek Soup (With Bacon!)

• Savor Quick Comfort: This soup delivers warm, hearty goodness in less than an hour, perfect for busy home cooks craving a satisfying meal without spending all day in the kitchen.
• Texture Party in a Bowl: Enjoy a delightful mix of creamy blended potatoes, tender leeks, crispy bacon bits, and crunchy homemade croutons that provide an exciting contrast in every spoonful.
• Smart One-Pot Wonder: Minimizes kitchen cleanup with a single pot cooking method that layers flavors seamlessly from bacon rendering to vegetable sautéing, making preparation simple and stress-free for anyone from beginner to experienced home chef.
• Nutritious Flavor Boost: Packed with vegetables, protein from bacon, and creamy texture from potatoes and cream, this soup offers a balanced meal that feels indulgent while delivering essential nutrients in a deliciously comforting package.

Key Ingredients for a Creamy Potato & Leek Blend

Main Ingredients:

• Potatoes: Hearty base vegetable that provides creamy texture and substance to the soup.
• Leeks: Mild onion-like vegetable offering a subtle sweet and delicate flavor.
• Chicken Broth: Flavorful liquid that creates the soup's foundational taste and adds depth.
• Water: Helps adjust soup's consistency and helps blend ingredients.

• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that adds rich, sharp flavor to the soup.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings for balancing and enhancing overall taste.
• Heavy Cream: Adds richness and smooth, velvety texture to the soup.
• Peas: Sweet, tender vegetable that provides color and light flavor.

• Bread Cubes: Crispy topping that adds crunch and textural contrast.
• Bacon: Salty, crispy protein that provides smoky flavor and additional texture.
• Parsley: Fresh herb that brings brightness and color to the finished dish.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps sauté vegetables.
• Paprika: Mild spice that adds subtle warmth and color to bread cubes.

How to Whip Up Jamie’s Comfort Soup

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).

Step 2: Create Crispy Croutons

• Bread cubes
• Melted butter
• Paprika

Spread on a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes until golden and crisp.

Step 3: Cook the Bacon

Fry bacon in a large pot until crispy, about 8 minutes. Remove bacon, keeping of bacon fat in the pot.

Step 4: Sauté Aromatics

• Leeks
• Garlic

Cook until soft and fragrant, approximately 5 minutes.

Step 5: Build the Soup Base

• Chicken broth
• Water
• Potatoes
• Salt
• Pepper

Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.

Step 6: Blend and Smooth

Carefully remove half the soup and blend until smooth. Return blended portion to the pot.

Step 7: Finish the Soup

Stir in cream and add peas. Simmer for 3 minutes until peas are tender. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Step 8: Garnish and Serve

• Crispy croutons
• Crumbled bacon
• Chopped parsley

Enjoy your hearty and comforting potato leek soup!

Insider Tips for a Perfect Soup Bowl

• Toast Bread Brilliance: Create homemade croutons by cutting bread into small cubes and sprinkle with paprika. Crisp them in a dry pan until golden brown for an unexpected textural surprise.
• Cream Conversion Magic: Fold cream into soup just before serving to maintain its luxurious silkiness. Gentle stirring prevents unwanted curdling and preserves the soup's smooth consistency.
• Seasoning Layering Method: Build depth by introducing salt and pepper at multiple cooking stages. Start with a light touch during initial sautéing, then fine-tune flavors near completion.
• Potato Power Selection: Opt for Russet or Yukon Gold varieties that naturally break down and create ultra-creamy textures. Their starchy composition guarantees a velvety soup experience.
• Blender Safety Dance: Remove center blender lid and drape a kitchen towel while processing hot soup. This strategic technique allows steam to escape and prevents potential kitchen mishaps.

Stashing Soup: Storage Made Simple

• Fridge Storage: Seal the soup in an airtight container within two hours after cooking. Transfer to a clean glass or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid, ensuring no air can enter. Keep the soup and crispy toppings separate to maintain their individual textures.
• Reheating Method: Warm gently on the stovetop over low heat to preserve the creamy consistency. Stir occasionally and add a splash of chicken broth if the soup appears too thick. Use a medium saucepan and keep the temperature low to prevent scorching or separating.
• Quality Check: Inspect the soup before consuming refrigerated leftovers. Discard if you detect any unusual odors, discoloration, or strange appearance. Generally, cream-based soups remain fresh for 3-4 days when stored properly in the refrigerator.

Endless Twists on a Classic Soup

• Vegetarian Potato Haven: Replace bacon with smoked tofu or roasted mushrooms for a meat-free version that delivers rich, earthy flavors.
• Spicy Mediterranean Fusion: Add chorizo instead of bacon and sprinkle red pepper flakes for a bold, zesty kick that transforms the classic soup.
• Cheesy Green Comfort: Stir in grated cheddar or crumbled blue cheese before serving, creating a luxurious and creamy texture that elevates the soup's comfort level.
• Herb-Infused Winter Warmer: Incorporate fresh thyme, rosemary, and sage during cooking to introduce aromatic herbal notes that complement the potatoes and leeks perfectly.

Conclusion: One Last Slurp of Comfort

Potato leek soup brings British comfort directly to kitchen tables with Jamie Oliver’s signature twist.

Crisp bacon crackles against creamy potato landscapes while herb-infused broth whispers culinary secrets.

Homemade croutons add delightful crunch, transforming simple ingredients into extraordinary experiences.

British comfort meets gourmet elegance through carefully balanced flavors dancing across palates.

Silky textures and rich undertones make this soup an irresistible winter companion.

Grab ingredients, channel inner chef, share this soul-warming masterpiece with hungry friends – snap a photo, tag friends, spark conversations about delicious memories waiting to be created.

Jamie Oliver Potato And Leek Soup With Bacon Recipe

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4.7 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Jamie Oliver’s comforting potato and leek soup blends rustic British flavors with crispy bacon’s smoky charm. Hearty ingredients meld together, creating a warming dish perfect for chilly evenings you’ll savor down to the last spoonful.

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Ingredients

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Vegetables:

• 2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch pieces (about 340 grams)
• 2 large leeks, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 ½ cups frozen peas (do not thaw)

Protein and Dairy:

• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) unsalted butter
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
• 4 cups (950 milliliters) low-sodium chicken broth

Seasonings and Garnish:

• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 ½ cups (225 grams) cubed crusty bread
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• ¼ cup (15 grams) chopped fresh parsley

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Instructions

1. Create crispy, golden croutons by combining melted butter and paprika, then coating bread cubes and baking at 400°F (200°C) for approximately 10 minutes until achieving a rich, crunchy texture.
2. Render bacon in a large pot until perfectly crisp, approximately 8 minutes, reserving 1 tablespoon of rendered fat for subsequent cooking.
3. Sauté leeks and minced garlic in remaining butter within the same pot, cooking until vegetables become tender and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
4. Pour chicken broth and water into the pot, then add diced potatoes with a light seasoning of salt and black pepper. Cover and bring to a rolling boil before reducing heat to a gentle simmer.
5. Allow potatoes to cook until completely tender, approximately 10 minutes, ensuring they’re soft enough to be easily pierced with a fork.
6. Carefully transfer half the soup to a blender, processing until achieving a smooth, creamy consistency. Return the puréed portion to the pot, creating a luxurious texture.
7. Stir heavy cream into the soup, then introduce fresh or frozen peas. Simmer for an additional 3 minutes, adjusting seasoning with extra salt and pepper to taste.
8. Ladle the soup into serving bowls, generously garnishing with prepared croutons, crisp bacon bits, and freshly chopped parsley for a delightful presentation.

Notes

• Optimize soup’s storage by keeping it refrigerated for up to 4 days, allowing flavors to meld and intensify overnight.
• Swap bacon for smoked paprika and vegetable broth to create a delightful vegetarian alternative that doesn’t compromise on depth.
• Sprinkle fresh parsley just before serving to introduce a vibrant color and herbaceous freshness that cuts through the soup’s richness.
• Embrace the magic of partial blending, transforming the texture into a dreamy combination of creamy smoothness and hearty vegetable chunks.
• Select Yukon Gold potatoes for their buttery texture and ability to create a luxuriously smooth, comforting soup base.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Boiling, Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 460 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 620 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 52 g
• Fiber: 6 g
• Protein: 11 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg