Thursday, January 4, 2018

A "Spin" on a Warming Soup



And this soup is especially good on a cold day! Every Day with Rachael Ray Magazine Executive Editor Nina Elder told Tonia's Kitchen about their Spinnocoli Soup, which as you might guess is something of a mash-up of spinach and broccoli.  But it doesn't end there.  Tonia told Nina that she made this soup and added parsnips to the mix for a different kind of flavor. You can use your creativity too, and make this soup what you need it to be

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
2 leeks, whites and light green tops chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small head broccoli, trimmed and chopped
2 tablespoons thyme, chopped
1 large russet potato, peeled and coarsely grated on large side of box grater
Salt and pepper
1 quart chicken or vegetable stock
12 ounces spinach, stemmed and coarsely chopped

Heat olive oil in a medium soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add butter and melt; when it foams, add leeks and garlic, and stir 2 minutes. Add broccoli, thyme, potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Raise heat a bit and cover to sweat 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add stock and bring to boil. Wilt in the spinach and season with a little freshly grated nutmeg then blend with an immersion blender or purée in batches in a food processor. Add a cup of water if soup is too thick. Adjust seasoning and add lemon zest and juice.

Serve soup in shallow bowls with a fat dollop of crème fraiche and topped with nuts and cheese.  -
A little freshly grated nutmeg, 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon, to taste
2 teaspoons lemon zest plus juice of  1/2 lemon
Crème fraîche, to serve
Coarsely chopped toasted walnuts or hazelnuts, to serve
Shaved or grated Parmigiano-Reggiano