Irish-style Potato Onion Soup

Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and sliced
• 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and sliced
• 3 cups milk
• 5 1/2 cups chicken stock (or use canned)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
• 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, whole
• 1 cup light cream
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh chives
• 6 slices lean bacon, crisply fried and chopped

Recipe

• 1 heat a 6- to 8-quart stockpot, add the butter and onion, and cook gently. do not let the onion brown. add the peeled and sliced potatoes, milk, and chicken stock.
• 2 add 1/4 cup chives, celery seeds, and thyme. cover and cook gently for about an hour.
• 3 prepare a roux: melt the butter in a small saucepan and whisk in the flour. let the flour and butter mixture (roux) bubble for 2 minutes on medium-low heat, stirring constantly.
• 4 thicken the soup with the roux, whisking carefully to avoid lumps. cook for 5 to 10 minutes and then puree the soup in a food processor or food blender.
• 5 add the cream and gently reheat, but do not boil. season with the salt and pepper. serve with additional 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives and the crisply fried bacon as garnishes.