I’ve come up with a really really quick version of Potato Leek Soup, or Vichyssoise, ready in under 15 minutes. It’s a lovely, creamy soup that can be served hot or cold.
Scroll down to read more about how it all comes together or click here to jump straight down to the recipe.
What Is Vichyssoise Soup?
Did you know that the French-sounding Vichyssoise Soup was invented in New York City? This cold cream of potato and leek soup was originally made by Chef Louis Diat while working at the New York Ritz Carlton. He named it after the French town Vichy, which was near his home town.
Using Canned Potatoes In Soup
You may recall from this post about Loaded Potato Soup that it was difficult to get potatoes to cook in a very short time. I therefore knew that I could not start with raw uncooked potatoes, cook them, and then get them chilled in under 15 minutes. So I decided to start this soup off with canned potatoes.
I’ve told you about canned potatoes before. They really are a brilliant thing. I always have a can or two in my pantry because they can be used to make quick hashbrowns or roasted potatoes. And because you can add them to soups and stews.
If you’ve never used canned potatoes before you might be worried that they will taste weird or that the soup will taste weird. Don’t worry at all. Nobody will be able to tell. So far I’ve served this soup to eight different people none of them suspected. In fact, they all raved about how creamy and rich the soup was.
Note that the recipe includes instructions for serving this soup both hot and cold.
More Delicious Soup Recipes
If you love this recipe because it’s a cold soup, you should try my easy gazpacho recipe too. If you love it because it has potatoes, save these recipes below.
Cold Potato Leek Soup Recipe
- Prep Time: 0 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
DESCRIPTION
This super-quick version of Vichyssoise uses canned potatoes to speed up the process. They’re fully cooked and ready to add to the soup before pureeing it. If you would like to serve this soup hot, see the note below.
To make this soup in under 15 minutes, first read through the recipe. As you read gather together all of the ingredients, tools, pots and pans that you will need. This is so that everything is at your fingertips while you cook. Do not prep any ingredients though. All prep is included in the instructions and counts towards the 15 minutes. See you in 15!
(Yield 7 cups, serves 6 as an appetizer)
Ingredients
- 3 cups low or no-sodium vegetable or chicken broth, divided
- 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 4 leeks
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- chives
- 3 (15 oz.) cans sliced potatoes
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 2 cups half and half cream
- A pinch of nutmeg
Instructions
- Measure 1 cup of the broth into a large pot or bowl (something big enough to fit 7 cups of soup) and put it into the freezer.
- Warm the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over low heat. Meanwhile trim, split and finely chop the leeks. Put them into a sieve and rinse them well to remove all dirt.
- Increase the heat under the pot to medium-high and add the leeks. Stir and then cover.
- Let them cook for about 4 minutes stirring occasionally and always putting the cover back on. If they start to brown a bit, reduce the heat.
- While the leeks cook, put the remaining 2 cups of the broth in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it until very hot, about 3 minutes. Add the hot broth and the salt to the leeks. Simmer until leeks are very soft, about 2 minutes more. While they soften, finely chop 1/4 cup of chives (these are for the garnish). Open and drain the potatoes.
Once the leeks are soft, remove pot from the heat. Remove the chilling broth from the freezer. - Put the broth from the freezer and half of the potatoes into the blender and puree until smooth. Transfer it to the cold bowl and add the ice cubes. Put the leek and broth mixture and the remaining potatoes into the blender and puree until smooth. Transfer it to the cold bowl. Stir in the half and half and the nutmeg. Stir until ice cubes have melted. Serve in bowls topped with the chives.
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Notes
To serve this soup hot, do not chill the bowl and broth and do not add the ice cubes. Instead, add 1 cup extra cream or broth or use water. Proceed with the recipe. After adding the half and half and the nutmeg, heat the soup over medium heat, stirring often, until heated through.
TENCHA JENKINS says
another easy way to prepare this soup is to saute 4 leeks in 1/4 c of butter, add 2 cups of chicken broth, 2 cans of cream of potato soup, simmer…add 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of half and half, blend, then put through a sieve…when cold add 1 cup of heavy cream. I use the small cans of soup.
Fast and easy. And good!!!
Christine Pittman says
That sounds great, Tencha. Thanks for telling me about it!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
This looks incredibly delicious!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Ooo, it looks so creamy!