Lovage, Potato & Buttermilk Soup

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

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 1/2 ounces finely chopped onions
• 10 ounces coarsely grated raw potatoes
• fresh young lovage, leaves
• 1 1/4 pints chicken stock or 1 1/4 pints vegetable stock
• 1/2 pint buttermilk, more if desired

Recipe

• 1 put the onion into a heavy-based saucepan.
• 2 add the stock and bring to boiling point very slowly so the onion begins to soften a little.
• 3 meanwhile coarsely chop a small handful (5 or so tablespoons) of lovage.
• 4 add the potato and herbs to the pan and pour on 1/2 pint buttermilk.
• 5 increase the heat very slightly and bring the mixture to a bare simmer.
• 6 stir vigorously all the while as the potato starch will thicken the soup, which may stick to the pan base.
• 7 half-cover the pan and reduce heat as low as possible once again.
• 8 cook very gently indeed, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are perfectly tender.
• 9 whizz the contents of the pan to a smooth puree.
• 10 season with salt and pepper and with extra lovage if you like.
• 11 whizz again and thin to taste with a little more stock or buttermilk.
• 12 reheat gently or chill thoroughly before serving, then garnish with a swirl of buttermilk and a small piece of chopped fresh lovage.