Leek Potato and Fennel Soup. This is comfort in a bowl. Fresh, light, filling and dairy-free so you can go for that second bowl.
Fennel is quickly becoming a spring staple in my house. There’s something about this anise tasting, aromatic and flavorful herb that I have fallen in love with.
Fennel is great on its own, raw, but this time I’m blending it up in a soup. With more of our favorite vegetables.
Soup always seems to be in order when making something for friends and family. There’s something so comforting about it. Maybe it’s the warm bowl, liquid creamy texture or even knowing that the soup was homemade.
When we moved here to Madison, I knew one person, my friend Joe. We knew each other from California and when my friends learned that we were moving to Madison, they told me Joe and his wife, Rina, were moving here too. We immediately got in touch and had lunch together at Sol’s on the Square, this Korean restaurant in Madison.
There are certain people that you meet in life, where you know the minute you meet them that they are special and kind. This is how I felt when I met Rina. We immediately became great friends and connected over food, cooking and exploring the city of Madison together. My daughters also felt an instant connection with Rina . . she is so great with them and always full of hugs, treats and laughter.
Rina is sick and is slowly working foods back into her diet. I made this soup for her, and to see her even eat 4 bites was amazing.
Rina, if you read this blog post, know that I love you and I am praying for you every day.
This leek, potato and fennel soup is dairy-free and vegan. I wasn’t sure about the creamy factor but my soup loving daughter, Phoebe, had two bowls so even without the heavy cream, it’s still a winner! You can, of course, add heavy cream, coconut milk, or whatever you want but I just added vegetable broth and some salt. The garnishes are also up to you! You can add bacon bits, croutons, shaved parmesan but again, I kept it simple with some thinly sliced radishes (which I love) and finely diced green onions.
BONUS: If you live in Madison, I hope you’re able to attend my Madewell event this Saturday! I’ll be giving away one of these Cast Iron Essential Ovens from Staub (in white!) that night to one lucky person! You have to be present to win.
Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best!
Leek Potato and Fennel Soup
Ingredients
For the soup:
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 leeks tender white parts only, thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 fennel bulbs cored and thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- Kosher salt and pepper to taste
- 3 to 4 Yukon gold potatoes scrubbed, peeled, and chopped into small dice
- 3 1/4 cups or 1 quart/32 fl. oz. box vegetable broth
Garnish the soup:
- thinly sliced radishes
- finely diced green onions or chives
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the leeks, fennel, garlic and a generous pinch of salt. Cook for about 5 to 8 minutes, or until the vegetables have softened. Add the potatoes and the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and let simmer for about 30 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and blend the soup until smooth with an immersion blender, or carefully ladle into a blender to blend. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve with the thinly sliced radishes and finely diced green onions on top.
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Staub did provide the Cast Iron Essential Ovens for this post and one for the giveaway.
What a delicious recipe! So healthy and quick to make. I love soups and could eat every day. I definitely know what you mean about meeting certain people and you know right away they are special and you just hit it off. How lucky we are when that happens 🙂 Thanks for sharing a lovely recipe. Pinning this one 🙂
Hi Dawn, thank you so much for the lovely comment! 🙂 We are big soup lovers as well!
YUmmy Yum! I love all the ingredients in this soup. I really should cook with fennel more. And meeting people you know are special the first minute is the best feeling ever!
Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.
Hi Luci! yes, try fennel!!! it’s great raw, roasted or blended up in a soup like this! It’s seriously becoming one of my spring faves!!!
Alice, I wish your friend good health and speedy recovery. True friends are as important as family. Laughter with a close friend is also good medicine. I love soup and I enjoy the flavor of anise. I will try this soon. 8 )
John, thank you so much for this comment!!! yes, Joe and Rina are my family here in Madison. . and yes, let me know if you try the soup! Cheers!
This was today’s soup of the day and truly delicious! ? Thanks for sharing!!!
I am in love with fennel, too! I love it raw, but have you tried roasting it? SO good!! Love the looks of this soup, the flavors sound like perfection together.
Denise, yes, I have!!! I actually roast just about every vegetable! thank you so much for the visit!
I once had seriously delicious potato and leek soup on an unanticipated 20 hour layover in the Heathrow Airport Sofitel! We were all so exhausted and travel sick and it totally hit the spot, so I have great memories with it 🙂 Yours looks fabulous!
oh wow, a 20 hour layover?! yikes! well, glad to hear the soup helped!!! thank you and hope you try this!
fennel is really wonderful although I have never tried it in a soup, I definitely should because it sounds wonderful.
Manali, you need to! my 8 year old daughter now loves this soup the most! 🙂 thank you!
I’ve never actually cooked with fennel before, but I do love the flavor of it! This soup looks fantastic, Alice! Love the creamy texture!
Gayle, you need to try it!!! I am in love with fennel right now! 🙂
I love meeting people and knowing right away that we’re meant to be buddies. It’s such a special feeling, and Rina is lucky to have you! And this soup that you made for her. It looks so nourishing!
Hope she feels better soon!
Hi Mir! thank you so much for this comment! I feel like I am lucky to have her! 🙂 thank you!!!
This has been on my mind since I saw it on your instagram feed. Awesome – I can’t wait to try this recipe!
This soup seriously looks sensational! I can’t stand it!
This looks so rich and hearty even without the dairy! This is perfect for our (hopefully!) last few chilly days here!
I love this spring-y soup, wish I had a big bowl for lunch!
I totally agree about special people in our lives! This is a great soup, Alice! Love the wonderful flavors! Pinning!
This is happening during my next Whole30, it’s perfect!
I’m so sorry to hear your dear friend is sick! She sure is lucky to have you to nurse her back to good health with some homemade creamy dream soup! This soup looks delicious, Alice! Fennel sure is delicious and it doesn’t get enough love, so thanks for fixing that! Wish I lived near you because I’d totally go to that event… well i’d attend ALL your events! 😉 Cheers, friend!
Potato leek soup is one of the first soups I ever made, and it holds a special place in my heart. I love that you’ve added fennel!
I love fennel raw and would love to try it in soup. This looks so creamy and I love that there’s no dairy. So sorry to hear about your friend, Alice! Hope she gets better soon!
Sorry to hear about your friend – sending lots of good wishes!
I got some fennel in my veg box this week and I had no idea what to do with it. This seems like a great way to use it1
You totally nailed this soup, Alice! It looks SO ultra-creamy and cozy, I can’t even believe that it doesn’t have any cream in it! I’d slurp down several bowls of this like nobody’s business! 😉