Potato Soup with Wilted Leaves

This recipe was invented around one of those ready-mixed bags of watercress, baby spinach and rocket leaves. Otherwise, just make up the same quantity from your own selection.

Serves 6

Potato Soup with Wilted Leaves

Ingredients
1 lb 8 oz (700 g) new potatoes, peeled and diced
4 oz (110 g) mixed watercress, baby leaf spinach and rocket
3 oz (75 g) butter
1 lb (450 g) onions, chopped
1½ pints (850 ml) chicken or vegetable stock
10 fl oz (275 ml) milk
Salt and freshly milled black pepper

Method

In a large, thick-based saucepan, gently melt 2 oz (50 g) of the butter, then add the potatoes and onions, stirring them all around with a wooden spoon so they get a nice coating of butter. Season with salt and pepper, then cover and let the vegetables sweat over a very low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring everything now and then. After that, add the stock and milk, bring to simmering point, cover and let the soup simmer very gently for a further 20 minutes or until the potatoes are soft – be careful as, if you have the heat too high, the milk may cause it to boil over. Now allow the soup to cool a little, before putting the whole lot into a blender in batches and blend to a purée (a bowl to put each batch in is helpful here). Return the soup to the pan, then gently reheat it, tasting to check the seasoning.

Meanwhile, roughly chop the watercress, spinach and rocket (including the stalks) and stir them into the soup with the remaining 1 oz (25 g) butter. As soon as the leaves have wilted, serve the soup in warm bowls.

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