Potato Leek Cream Soup (Printable)

Rich, velvety soup with tender potatoes and leeks, finished with cream for ultimate comfort in a bowl.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 3 medium leeks (white and light green parts only), cleaned and sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
04 - 3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Liquids

06 - 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
07 - 1 cup whole milk or heavy cream
08 - 1 bay leaf

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
10 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)

→ Garnish

12 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or parsley
13 - Drizzle of olive oil or swirl of cream (optional)

# How-To:

01 - Slice leeks lengthwise, then into thin half-moons. Rinse thoroughly under running water to remove any grit between layers.
02 - In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add leeks and onion, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, approximately 7 minutes.
03 - Add minced garlic to the pot and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Stir in potatoes, bay leaf, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 20–25 minutes until potatoes are very tender.
05 - Remove the bay leaf. Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, carefully transfer the soup in batches to a blender and purée, then return to the pot.
06 - Stir in milk or cream. Heat gently until warmed through without boiling. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg if using. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Ladle hot soup into bowls. Garnish with chives or parsley and a swirl of cream or olive oil if desired.

# Expert Hacks:

01 -
  • The velvety texture hits that perfect balance between hearty and refined, without requiring any fussy techniques or specialty equipment.
  • It actually tastes better the next day, making your future self incredibly grateful to your present self for the minimal effort.
02 -
  • Never boil the soup after adding milk or cream, or youll end up with a slightly curdled texture that cant be fixed.
  • The thickness of potato leek soup continues to develop as it cools, so if it seems a bit thin when serving, dont worry as itll reach perfect consistency shortly.
03 -
  • Save the dark green parts of the leeks for making vegetable stock, tucking them into the freezer until you have enough scraps to make a batch.
  • For the silkiest possible texture, pass the blended soup through a fine-mesh sieve before adding the cream, a restaurant technique that makes all the difference for special occasions.
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