Leek and potato soup

This has to be the easiest soup in the world to make, and surely one of the most satisfying to eat - it feels like putting on a big fluffy pair of slippers.

Goes perfectly with homemade soda bread. 
 

Leek and potato soup with homemade soda bread

My brother told me how to make this soup after having made it when he was in primary school. He is 33 now so does that mean I can call it 'an old family recipe'?

Leek and potato soup ingredients

• Rapeseed oil*
• 1 large onion
• 2 large leeks
• 2 medium floury potatoes
• 1 litre vegetable stock
• Plenty salt and pepper
• A little grated Cheddar, to serve

*I doubt my brother recommended using rapeseed oil so feel free to substitute for olive or butter. 

How to make leek and potato soup

1. Heat a little rapeseed oil in a large pan.
2. Chop the onion finely and add to the pan.
3. Put the lid on the pan and sweat the onions over a low heat while you prepare the leeks.
4. Remove the outer leaves from the leeks, then chop into long batons. Slice each baton lengthways, then run under the cold tap to remove any soil.
5. Slice the cleaned leeks into smaller pieces.
6. Add to the onions and sweat until both are soft (about 10 minutes)
7. Peel the potatoes and cut into even sized pieces.
8. Add the vegetable stock to the pan.
9. Add the potatoes and season with plenty salt and pepper.
10. Put the lid back on the pan and bring everything to the boil.
11. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender.
12. Leave the soup to cool slightly, then either liquidise in a food processor or mash with a potato masher.
13. Check the seasoning. 
14. Sprinkle over a little grated Cheddar to serve.

Smoked mackerel and potato cakes

Smoked mackerel with potato cakes

Not for lunch, but a lovely supper that uses up any leftover mashed potatoes you might have. (Being from the North, I hate waste.)

I used the following quantities for 2 people, and ate far too much - I could have happily done with half the amount. Admittedly I served this with a corn on the cob, which was wholly unnecessary. The potato cakes need a lot of oil too, so this is more of a mid-week indulgence than a healthy supper. I don't think you should add any flour to potato cakes - this may help keep them in one piece but their taste will be spoiled.

Ingredients for the potato cakes

• Approx 250g cooked mashed potato
• About 30g goat's cheese
• About 2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley

To serve with potato cakes

• 1 pack smoked mackerel fillets (ie 4 fillets)
• 4 cornichon (small gherkins), chopped
• 10 baby plum tomatoes

 

Optional vegetables to serve with potato cakes if you're greedy (like me)

• Greens
• Corn on the cob

Method for making potato cakes with smoked mackerel

1. Add enough rapeseed oil to cover the bottom of a large frying pan then heat till hot.
2. Heat the grill to medium, ie about 230 degrees C.
3. Add the finely diced goat's cheese to the mashed potato.
4. Stir in the parsley.
5. Season well with tons of salt and black pepper.
6. Shape the potato mixture into 4 equal sized balls, then flatten ball to give flatish cakes.
7. Lower each cake into the hot oil in the frying pan.
8. While the cakes are cooking, line a baking tin with tin foil, pour in a small drop of rapeseed oil and spread this all over the tin either with your fingers or a pastry brush. 
9. Add the smoked mackerel to the lined tin along with the baby tomatoes and scatter over the chopped cornichon.
10. Place under the grill for about 5 minutes till the fish is warmed through and the tomatoes are bursting. 
11. Once the underside of the potato cakes are crispy, carefully turn them over to brown the other side.
12. Boil the kettle, then fill a large pan with the boiling water, and place on hob.
13. Remove the thick vein from the centre of the greens' leaves, cut into even sized pieces and place in a bamboo steamer. 
14. Put 2 plates in the oven below the grill to warm.
15. Lower the corn cobs into the boiling water and add a little salt.
16. Boil for about 4 minutes before placing the bamboo steamer over the pan and steam the greens for another 2 minutes. 
17. Remove everything from the pans/grill and transfer to the warm plates to serve.
18. Add a small drizzle of rapeseed oil to the corn on the cob, plus plenty of salt and pepper. 

 

Potato cakes cooking