FENNEL, GARLIC AND POTATO SOUP

Fennel, Garlic and Potato Soup image

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Time 1h10m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

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2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 large or 1 medium onion, diced
2 stalks celery, sliced
2 pounds bulb fennel, trimmed, washed and diced
1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
6 garlic cloves or 1/2 head green garlic, peeled and cut in half
Salt to taste
A bouquet garni made with a bay leaf, a couple of sprigs each parsley and thyme, 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds and 1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns, tied in cheesecloth
2 quarts water, vegetable stock or chicken stock
Freshly ground pepper
Chopped fresh fennel fronds
Lightly crushed fennel seeds
Paper-thin slices of fennel bulb
Garlic croutons
Shaved Parmesan

Steps:

Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the onion, celery, chopped fennel and a generous pinch of salt. Cook gently for about 5 to 8 minutes, until the vegetables have softened and lost some of their volume. Add the potatoes, garlic, bouquet garni and the water or stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, add salt to taste, cover and simmer 45 minutes.
Remove the bouquet garni. Blend the soup until smooth with an immersion blender, or ladle into a blender, working in 1 1/2-cup batches. Remove the center from the blender cover, place a towel over the cover and pull it down tightly to prevent splashing. Blend and return to the pot. Heat through, add salt and pepper to taste and serve, or chill and serve cold, with your choice of garnishes.