September 19, 2012
Gazpacho
In the midst of the August heatwave, Maxence and I sat at a dappled table of a restaurant in Urdax, a pretty village in the Spanish Basque country, and ordered gazpacho.
It was brought to us in white ceramic bowls, with a side plate of toppings to sprinkle in -- cucumbers, green bell peppers, and onions, all of them finely diced, flakes of serano ham, and tiny croutons -- and we slurped it all down thirstily.
Usually, when I lay my hands on e...
November 23, 2010
Chunky Pumpkin Soup
After years of whizzing all of my soups to liquid velvet, I have recently and suddenly become a chunky soup convert.
This change of preference happened overnight, and I don't know what prompted it, but ever since the beginning of the fall and the first batches of the season, I can't think of a more desirable soup format than cubes, coins, and ribbons of vegetables intermingling in a broth. There's chew and slurp, and the combination of the two...
"Chunky Pumpkin Soup" continues »
September 7, 2010
Pattypan Squash and Pesto Soup
I've been a little hard on the patty pan squash, and for that I apologize.
About a year ago, I posted a recipe for Roasted Patty Pan Squash and Herbed Chickpeas, and wrote, "avoid patty pans that are larger than the palm of your hand: they will likely be watery and bland."
I do stand by my statement that young and small patty pan squashes have more flavor, better texture, and undoubtedly more kawaii appeal than their bigger brothers, but that...
"Pattypan Squash and Pesto Soup" continues »
October 27, 2009
Jerusalem Artichoke Soup with Bacon
[Velouté de topinambours au bacon]
It has been a while -- five years, to be exact -- since we last discussed Jerusalem artichokes around here, but they do belong to my regular winter vegetable rotation so I thought I'd bring them up again.
The tubers have just started to appear and will stick around until March or April, so you can start looking for them now; you should have better luck finding them at a farmers' market of some sort, as they ...
"Jerusalem Artichoke Soup with Bacon" continues »
June 9, 2008
Chilled Pea Pod Soup
As a sequel to my ode to the fresh pea, here is a recipe for chilled pea pod soup, a.k.a. "I have just devoted thirty minutes of my life to the shelling of those peas, and I intend to milk them for all they're worth" soup.
Like all recipes that propose to use odds and ends that might, in other, less frugal kitchens, end up in the trash, this one delights me to no end -- the nose-to-tail philosophy applied to the vegetable kingdom, if you will....
"Chilled Pea Pod Soup" continues »
January 8, 2008
Soupe Poireaux Pommes de Terre
[Leek and Potato Soup]
It has been far too long since last I wrote about soup. Have I stopped making soup? This is like asking if I've stopped breathing, and the answer -- as I type this, at least -- is no.
The reason for this soup drought is that I've mostly been making variations of soups already featured on this blog, or über-simple combinations of whatever vegetables cried for salvation in my refrigerator.
Today's recipe is also very si...
"Soupe Poireaux Pommes de Terre" continues »
December 13, 2006
Soupe de Chou-Fleur, Curcuma et Noisette
[Cauliflower Soup with Turmeric and Hazelnuts]
I know a lot of people who dislike cauliflower. Perhaps I am biased since I grew up eating my mother's killer gratin de chou-fleur, but I really don't see what's not to like in a vegetable that's mild-flavored without being bland, that's so good-looking it is described as a flower in numerous languages (chou-fleur, cavolfiore, coliflor, Blumenkohl, bloemkool, couve-flor -- wanna add yours?), and t...
"Soupe de Chou-Fleur, Curcuma et Noisette" continues »
November 14, 2006
Green Bean and Almond Soup
[Soupe de Haricots Verts aux Amandes]
None of my friends need to be reminded how I feel about Rose Bakery, their salad plates, their assortment of British goods (including Neal's Yard cheeses), and their superb sweets that one simply must try and reproduce at home. "Where should we go for lunch in your neighborhood?" they ask. "I like Rose Bakery," I reply. "And what about breakfast/tea/brunch, what do you recommend?" they ask. "Well, I like R...
"Green Bean and Almond Soup" continues »
April 24, 2006
Soupe aux Orties
[Nettle Soup]
How often do you get to cook with a hostile ingredient? Sure, you could hurt yourself with pretty much anything -- drop a head of celeriac on your toes, rub your eyes after chopping chili peppers, stab yourself with a carrot -- but nettle leaves are actively belligerent. Stinging you is their life calling, it is what they were meant to do, and you can hardly blame them. Wolves will be wolves, nettles will be nettles.
And so it i...
"Soupe aux Orties" continues »
April 4, 2006
Soupe de Betterave, Pâte d'Anchois aux Noix
[Beet Soup with Anchovy-Walnut Paste]
I went to the market on Saturday morning, walking at a brisk pace up the boulevard in the shy sunlight, stopping by the bank to deposit a check (aren't you glad to know), and reaching the stands about a minute after the greasy smells of potato pancakes had reached me -- how anyone can be tempted by these is beyond me, but the guy who sells them seems to do quite well, so perhaps I'm just not his target aud...
"Soupe de Betterave, Pâte d'Anchois aux Noix" continues »
December 21, 2005
Soupe de Courge à la Vanille
[Butternut Squash and Vanilla Soup]
If it sort of seems from my recent postings that all I eat these days is soup, well, it's not very far from the truth. But see, all those winter vegetables are really begging for it, and I don't have the heart to turn them down. Besides, since I am now equipped with a cast-iron cocotte and an immersion blender, it's only courteous of me to use them, right?
Today's featured soup was made with a large chunk o...
"Soupe de Courge à la Vanille" continues »
December 14, 2005
Soupe de Bettes et Panais
[Swiss Chard and Parsnip Soup]
... a.k.a. the smoothest soup to ever be born on my stove. Yes: after months of coveting and weighing and dreaming and stealthily searching eBay, I finally caved in and treated myself to my very first immersion blender. I am slowly taking in what that means -- onions and herbs chopped in a pinch, banana milkshakes, velvety soups and most importantly, stiff egg whites without the forearm cramps -- and I could just...
"Soupe de Bettes et Panais" continues »
November 25, 2005
Soupe de Céleri et Patates Douces au Gingembre
[Celeriac and Sweet Potato Soup with Ginger]
It has been very cold in Paris lately* -- which I guess should be expected in late November but still comes as something of a shock after the lovely été indien we've had -- and naturally my thoughts turn to, I'll let you guess: fondue savoyarde? Well, that's one, but it's not what I meant. Soup, then? Yes! Thick and hearty soup served piping hot, the kind you can fill a pretty bowl with, cup your ha...
"Soupe de Céleri et Patates Douces au Gingembre" continues »
September 26, 2005
Soupe de Carotte à la Brise de Châtaigne
[Carrot Chestnut Soup]
Fall officially came into office barely a week ago, and while the weather hasn't been particularly drab (we've even had a few unseasonally beautiful days), it seems as though a giant switch had been flicked in some great control room somewhere: all of a sudden, with no warning at all, I felt like eating soup.
So. Veggies were purchased, a cocotte was whipped out (this is just a manner of speaking considering the weight ...
"Soupe de Carotte à la Brise de Châtaigne" continues »
January 11, 2005
Une Simple Soupe
[A Simple Soup]
Is the weather cold and chilly and rainy and overcast (check all that apply)? Does it make you a little gloomy? Have you somewhat over-indulged during the holidays? Do you feel a little guilty? These are all perfectly benign symptoms, don't you worry. All you need is a nice, warm, chunky bowl of soup.
The recipe that follows is not set in stone by any means. I just made it with these vegetables because they were the ones I had...
"Une Simple Soupe" continues »
October 18, 2004
Soupe de Cresson à la Sauge Fraîche
[Watercress and Fresh Sage Soup]
On Saturday morning, at an hour which felt far, far too early to be up on a week-end morning although by any reasonable standard it was really just mid-morning, I met with my chef-friend Nicolas Vagnon in front of his favorite produce stall at the Batignolles organic market.
As we have already done on several occasions with equal joy, we then proceeded to shop for fruits and vegetables, he for his restaurant,...
"Soupe de Cresson à la Sauge Fraîche" continues »
August 5, 2004
Velouté Froid de Courgette au Parmesan
[Parmesan & Zucchini Chilled Soup]
Well, my birthday buffet just had to have something zucchini, no?
This soup was an attempt to reproduce a soup I recently had at R'Aliment, which has become my first choice of restaurant for a weeknight girls' dinner out with my best friends : excellent food, always different (the menu changes weekly), fresh, light, clean tastes, it never disappoints.
The soup I had in mind was a Délice Froid de Fenouil et ...
"Velouté Froid de Courgette au Parmesan" continues »
May 24, 2004
Soupe de Châtaigne au Chorizo
[Chestnut and Chorizo Soup]
This recipe comes from the book "Mes Petits Plats Préférés", by Trish Deseine. She is definitely one of my favorite cookbook authors : her recipes are simple but inventive, and I love her personal and friendly voice. She is also the author of my all-time fave cookbook "Je veux du chocolat!", which I've mentioned in the past. I recently met her at the signing of her latest book, titled "J'en veux encore", and was del...
"Soupe de Châtaigne au Chorizo" continues »
April 29, 2004
Soupe de Carotte à la Menthe
[Mint Carrot Soup]
Have you ever noticed how un-photogenic soup is? Well, now you have! The very things that make soup tasty and comforting, all pureed chunks and blended veggies, make it somewhat messy close up.
In this case, I almost didn't post about the soup because I was unhappy about the picture. But then I decided that the dictatorship of beauty would not rule here, and that my soup very much deserved a post. As with pudding, you know wh...
"Soupe de Carotte à la Menthe" continues »
March 15, 2004
Soupe de Mâche au Poulet
[Lamb's Lettuce Chicken Soup]
Foreword : you might notice that the picture above has the focus on the bread and not the soup. The soup will have to forgive me, I love it dearly and all, it is really the star of this post, but I'm sorry, soup, you are just not photogenic. At all.
La mâche, which I'm told translates to lamb's lettuce, is a kind of salad which comes in small bouquets of soft green leaves in the shape of drops, and has a mild tas...
"Soupe de Mâche au Poulet" continues »
February 24, 2004
Soupe Broccoli Mimolette
[Broccoli Mimolette Soup]
This soup has to be the best broccoli soup I've ever had - and without a doubt the best one I've ever made. The really cool thing about it, besides being really really good, is that it is infused with flavor from two ingredients that usually get thrown out without batting an eyelash : the rind from a firm and sharp cheese, and the stems from a bunch of fresh herbs.
From now on I vow to always throw these in the freez...
"Soupe Broccoli Mimolette" continues »
January 29, 2004
Soupe de Fenouil aux Ecorces d'Orange
[Fennel and Orange Peel Soup]
Introducing... the latest brainchild of my soup kick! I was on the bus home from work a few days ago (you know, line 67, my food thought lab?), thinking about the soup I would make for dinner. I had half a mind to make some kind of winter squash soup, and was toying with the idea of adding candied orange peel to make it more interesting. I had just picked up one of my favorite cooking magazines in France, Saveurs ...
"Soupe de Fenouil aux Ecorces d'Orange" continues »
January 22, 2004
Soupe de Courgette au Sésame
[Sesame Zucchini Soup]
Oh, did I mention I am in full soup-making mode these days? It could be the grey and chilly days we have to plow through, or the vague feeling that my body could use a little detoxifying after the holiday scrumpadillies, but all I can think about is soup soup soup. When the idea of lacing zucchini soup with tahini (the sesame paste used in hummus) came to me out of the blue a few days ago, I thought it very appealing and...
"Soupe de Courgette au Sésame" continues »
January 14, 2004
Velouté de Lentilles aux Marrons
[Velvety Lentil Chestnut Soup]
I think I am getting the hang and love and joy of soup. I told you before the odd intimidation it provoked in me, but after preparing a few successful pots of simmering velvety goodness, I think I can declare myself officially and fully over it.
The other day, browsing on Maki's excellent blog i was just really hungry, one of her soup recipes caught my eye, a Lentil-Chestnut Soup. Lentils and chestnuts are two o...
"Velouté de Lentilles aux Marrons" continues »
November 28, 2003
Soupe de Courge Musquée aux Epices
[Spiced Pumpkin Soup]
I am ordinarily not a huge winter squash fan. I used to dislike sweet and savory together when I was little, and that seems to vaguely remain when it comes to pumpkin and its brothers and sisters. But I do love the look of them and how they come in all shapes, sizes and colors and look like a little munchkin tribe. And the other day at the grocery store, I could not resist buying a big plump slice of bright orange courge mu...
"Soupe de Courge Musquée aux Epices" continues »
October 18, 2003
Soupe de Brocoli
[Broccoli Soup]
I am not a soup maker. For a very long time, I was most intimidated by it. Something about the large pot and the veggies cooked to death turned me off. I also didn't grow up in a soup family -- we hardly ever had it, though it was delicious when we did -- so I don't think of it as a particularly comforting dish. And finally, I'd rather eat a thing than drink it: I'd rather eat an orange than drink its juice, and I'd rather eat ...
"Soupe de Brocoli" continues »