Friday, January 14, 2011

Crock-Pot Golden Vegetable Soup and Creme Fraiche



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This lovely soup is a crock-pot home run. While there is a good deal of chopping involved in its preparation, once that's done, this is an effortless meal. The soup comes from the Normandy region of France and it is made with root vegetables that are simmered to submission and then puréed. The soup has a silken texture that is further enhanced by a final enrichment of crème fraiche which adds tang, as well as creaminess, to the finished product. If you like potato soup, I suspect you'll love this creamy Norman version. While the soup was selected for it delicious flavor, its color is also a lure at this time of year. Our skies here can be gray for days on end, so I like to bring sunshine to our table using vibrantly colored food. This soup is the color of molten gold and it's perfect for warming bodies and warding off winter's chill. The ingredients needed to make it are plentiful and can be found in any store at this time of year. If you make your own crème fraiche, the soup is also a bargain. I'm including a recipe for crème fraiche for those of you who want to make your own. It is simple to do, but once made, it needs to sit for at least 8 hours in order to thicken, so plan your time accordingly. The recipes were developed by Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann and I found both recipes in their book, Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Recipes for Entertaining. I hope you give them a try. Here are the recipes.

Crock-Pot Golden Vegetable Soup..from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 large yellow onions, chopped
3 leek, white and tender green, sliced 1/2-inch thick
6 medium-sized carrots, sliced 1/2-inch thick
6 medium size russet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick
2 large turnips, peeled and sliced 1/2-inch thick
2 quarts boiling water or chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
1-1/2 cups crème fraiche

Directions:

1) Rub bottom half of slow cooker insert with butter. Add onions, leeks, carrots, potatoes and turnips. Add boiling water or broth, and cook on LOW until vegetables are tender, about 6 to 8 hours.
2) Using an immersion blender, puree soup. Alternatively, transfer soup to a food processor or blender and working in batches, puree soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in crème fraiche, cover, and cook on LOW until heated through, about 20 minutes. Do not allow soup to boil. Serve immediately. Yield: 8 servings.



Photo courtesy of Mozzco.Com

Crème Fraiche
..from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann

Ingredients:
1 cup heavy or heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup full-fat sour cream or buttermilk
2 tablespoons full-fat plain yogurt containing acidophilus cultures

Directions:

1) Combine heavy cream, sour cream and yogurt in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature until thickened, 6 to 8 hours or overnight. Allow it to sit for a longer period of time will produce a thicker cream.
2) Transfer thickened cream to refrigerator and store, covered, until ready to use.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Chicken Enchilada Chowder - Katy's Kitchen
Corn Chowder in the Slow Cooker - Real Mom Kitchen
Posole - Around My Family's Table
Minestrone - Coconut and Lime
Slow Cooker Black Eyed Pea Soup - Around My Family Table
Potato Soup - The Teacher Cooks

45 comments :

Chiara said...

Another delicious recipe, a soup warm and comfortable, perfect for this wet season, I wish you a pleasant day Mary, blessings....

theUngourmet said...

I'm always thrilled to run across a new soup recipe! This looks so delicious and I love the idea of making my own creme fraiche! Happy Friday to you!

penny aka jeroxie said...

What a good idea to use crock pot for making soups.

Alessandra said...

Yellow onions... are they the ones with the brown skin?

The creme fraiche is a lovely addition :-)

ciao
A.

Priya Suresh said...

SOup looks absolutely inviting, homemade creme fraiche looks great..

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

I will agree that this soup seems more fitting to a crock pot than your beautiful roast from yesterday. Though, you never do much wrong. A roast simply needs to be roasted...yes? Thank you for the creme fraiche recipe. I have been wnating to try this. Now I know it is a proven recipe. Thanks.

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

Your photos are always so gorgeous! This simple soup looks so elegant!

Fabi said...

Really lovely, I bet it warms belly and soul.
:-)
Have a nice weekend!

Barbara said...

I've made a similar soup, Mary. I had roasted a pan of root veggies for dinner and took the leftovers and pureed them for lunch the next day. I added some stock. Love the idea of adding creme fraiche!

The Teacher Cooks said...

The homemade creme fraiche is a wonderful addition to a great soup. I cannot wait to try this. Thanks for the link again!

Unknown said...

That looks so creamy and delicious! And I have always wondered if you can make your own creme fraiche!! Thanks for sharing!

Kim said...

I like making soups in crock pot. Of course it still involves that you peel and chop but it's kind of effotless! I like it a lot! This soup looks good... Plus i like creme fraiche!

Flavia Galasso said...

While I was reading your post I asked myself...where can I find creme fraiche...and you answered with a nother interesting recipe...thank you MAry...may your weekend be sunny, warm and delish as your soup, hugs, sincerely yours, Flavia

From the Kitchen said...

I can certainly make this soup (after chopping) quite easily with the aid of my new immersion blender! I very happy to have a tried and true recipe for creme fraiche. Even in our area, it isn't easy to come by.

Have a great weekend!

Best,
Bonnie

Emily Malloy said...

Love it! Soup is PERFECT this time of year!

Choclette said...

Perfect, I was just thinking I wanted to do soup tonight to go with some soda bread I feel like making. This one sounds lovely with the creme fraiche in it too.

When we're organised, we make our own and just keep it going, but I've not used yogurt before, just buttermilk.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Perfect for "snowplow happy" days like today.

claire said...

It has been so darn cold here- This would be perfect! I love my crockpot~!

Deana Sidney said...

I don't own a crockpot but imagine I could make it without... love the yogurt addition... and lower calories. This soup must be so good and good for you!

Banana Wonder said...

Nice! I was just wondering about vegetarian crock pot recipes since my roommate just busted out her crock pot. I love vegetable soups! Yum. Thanks for this recipe.

Gloria Baker said...

absolutely delicious dear Mary, have a lovely day, gloria

Unknown said...

It's a beautiful soup...turnips, leeks...wonderful! I love the consistency and that it cooks away in the crock-Pot, fabulous!

Sushma Mallya said...

yummy,looks very healthy...

aipi said...

Homemade cream fraiche..wow, thanks for the recipe Mary I am going to try it :)
Soup looks great, warm n hearty.. so apt for the weather!

US Masala

The Red Umbrella said...

This looks like a something to dive into!

Joanne said...

I love that this uses a variety of root veggies because they add so many nutrients! Sounds like some serious comfort food.

SKIP TO MALOU said...

I've never thought of using a crock pot to cook soup.. a new learning for the day... thanks Mary and I hope you have a great weekend!
Cheers!
Malou

Anonymous said...

Beautiful soup! I absolutely love pureed soups and using a slow cooker never crossed my mind! Thank you thank you! Have a great day. :)
-Meredith @A Busy Nest

teresa said...

oh that looks just amazing, so velvety and flavorful, lovely!

Ginny Hartzler said...

This looks wonderful! Why can't I find Creme Fraiche in the stores here? I've heard that in England, you can get like at least a dozen kinds of creams. Gald for that recipe, I've never quite known what makes it different.

Tasha said...

Warm and comforting, chock full of good-for-you veggies and a vibrant, pretty color to boot- sounds like a perfect soup for these chilly winter days!

workouteatin said...

This sounds delicious Mary! What size crock-pot did you use? Mine is a little on the small side, so I want to make sure it will all fit before I start chopping all of those veggies!
Thanks!

flying eagle woman said...

:-) it's been awhile but dang that soup looks yummy - am going to try and stop at "old wives tale" and have a cup of hungarian mushroom this weekend...

love the creme fraisch recipe!! have ALWAYS wanted to see one!
Cheers - have a good weekend!
Shawna

Monet said...

I have certainly made stew with these root vegetables, but I've never thought to puree them. What a brilliant idea! Thank you for sharing such an effortless recipe. I hope your weekend overflows with good food, good friends, and love!

Claudia said...

i love dishes where the work is done early and then you forget about it. The golden soup is gold! Winter sustenance. (Love the phrase "cooking the vegetables into submission!")

Noor said...

Oh Mary another hit from you. I love soup and my crockpot so I will give this one a try soon.

Lori said...

I love pureed soup. And what could be better than creme fraiche with it!

Melinda said...

Great for our wonderful weather.


Have a wonderful weekend.

Melinda

brokeintrovert said...

I cannot wait to try this. I received a crockpot from my mother this Christmas.

xinex said...

Looks and sounds wonderful, Mary!..Christine

scrambledhenfruit said...

I'm always needing more crock pot recipes. I love to have dinner all cooked when I get home from work. This soup sounds wonderful. :)

Rhonda said...

I'm glad you found a crockpot recipe that is great. Pureed soups are so satisfing.

Pondside said...

As I read and comment I have a big pot of stock 'brewing' on the stove. I think I'll try this - I have everything in the house except the cream, and that will be easy to come by.

Miriam said...

Wow! I can practically taste this soup from your beautiful pictures, great recipe!! Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

rebecca @ beurrista said...

I can't wait to try out this soup- i haven't found many good crock pot recipes, but this one seems to sound like a winner!

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