Chez Panisse Spinach Soup
"Adapted from "Chez Panisse Cooking" by Paul Bertolli. "Garnish the soup with garlic butter," Bertolli writes, "or swirls of crème fraîche thinned to the consistency of the soup and chopped nasturtium petals." He also suggests serving it with grated Parmesan, small buttered garlic croutons and extra-virgin olive oil drizzled over the surface. "Puréed spinach will turn a dull army green color within 20 minutes, so this soup should be blended, seasoned and served immediately.""
photo by chia2160
- Ready In:
- 45mins
- Ingredients:
- 6
- Serves:
-
8
ingredients
directions
- Melt the butter in a wide stainless-steel pot (at least a 5-quart capacity) over medium-low heat.
- Add three-fourths cup of water and the carrot, celery and onion. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to cook at a low simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.
- Add 4 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Add the spinach and boil for 1 additional minute, stirring until all of the spinach is well-wilted. Do not cover the pot: volatile acids, which are released when the vegetable is heated, will condense on the lid, fall back into the pot and cause discoloration.
- Purée the entire mixture using an immersion blender, or pour into a blender to purée, and transfer the soup immediately to a hot tureen. Do not strain the soup.
- Season with 1 1/2 tsps. salt and a pinch of pepper, or to taste, garnish as desired and serve immediately.
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Reviews
-
Easy and delicious hot or cold. -
this was fantastic- so easy to make and the bright green color reminded me of spring. this is a great light first course and the only thing i added was some tarragon and freshly grated nutmeg.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Chef Kate
Annapolis, 60
<p>I have always loved to cook. When I was little, I cooked with my Grandmother who had endless patience and extraordinary skill as a baker. And I cooked with my Mother, who had a set repertoire, but taught me many basics. Then I spent a summer with a French cousin who opened up a whole new world of cooking. And I grew up in New York City, which meant that I was surrounded by all varieties of wonderful food, from great bagels and white fish to all the wonders of Chinatown and Little Italy, from German to Spanish to Mexican to Puerto Rican to Cuban, not to mention Cuban-Chinese. And my parents loved good food, so I grew up eating things like roasted peppers, anchovies, cheeses, charcuterie, as well as burgers and the like. In my own cooking I try to use organics as much as possible; I never use canned soup or cake mix and, other than a cheese steak if I'm in Philly or pizza by the slice in New York, I don't eat fast food. So, while I think I eat and cook just about everything, I do have friends who think I'm picky--just because the only thing I've ever had from McDonald's is a diet Coke (and maybe a frie or two). I have collected literally hundreds of recipes, clipped from the Times or magazines, copied down from friends, cajoled out of restaurant chefs. Little by little, I am pulling out the ones I've made and loved and posting them here. Maybe someday, every drawer in my apartment won't crammed with recipes. (Of course, I'll always have those shelves crammed with cookbooks.) I'm still amazed and delighted by the friendliness and the incredible knowledge of the people here. 'Zaar has been a wonderful discovery for me.</p>
