Cock-a-Leekie Soup

This soup is a simple soup that is easy to throw together on a nippy fall day and has Comfort Food written all over it.

Cock-a-Leekie Soup is an old Scottish soup made with leeks, chicken stock, and prunes (yes, really!) that dates back to the 16th century and is probably actually French in origin. Traditionally it would have been thickened with barely and likely never included chicken. The chicken itself, the more favored dish, would have been served earlier and the nourishing broth would have been saved for a later day, or in the case of a larger home, used for the servants’ meal.

In keeping with this idea, my recipe doesn’t include chicken either. The chicken that provided the bone broth for this soup first provided us with a delicious Roast Chicken with Brussels Sprouts (plus a pile of leftovers.)

 

Cock-a-Leekie Soup

3 leeks; slice the white part and a bit of the green into rounds

1 medium onion, sliced

4-5 potatoes, chopped; there is no need to peel them. (I used red-skinned potatoes this time; white works just as well.)

4 cups bone broth or chicken stock (Learn more about bone broth here.)

1 teaspoon salt (I like this kind.)

1/4 teaspoon black pepper (Get quality herbs and spices here.)

1-2 tablespoons of good butter (I like to use Kerrygold.)

15-20 dried prunes (Learn about dehydrating your own plums here.)

1 cup of the best cream you can find (not ultrapasteurized)

In a large, heavy bottomed pot (I like to use a cast iron pot very like this), melt the butter.

Saute the leeks and the onions. Then add the potatoes, broth, salt and pepper and simmer for about 30 minutes until the potatoes are tender.

Add the prunes and cook for about 5 minutes to soften them.

Add the cream and cook, stirring gently until warm throughout.

Serve immediately.

See, I told you it was quick and easy. Don’t be put off by the prunes. They add just a touch of bitey sweetness to the soup and are what changes this soup from plain old (but also delicious) leek and potato soup into traditional Scottish Cock-a-Leekie Soup.

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