Best Homemade Potato Soup

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How to Make Best Homemade Potato Soup

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Ingredients:

• 6 strips bacon (uncooked, chopped)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 medium yellow onion (diced, about 1.5 cups)
• 3 large garlic cloves (minced)
• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ lbs gold potatoes (peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces)
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups milk
• ⅔ cup heavy cream
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• ¼ – ½ teaspoon ancho chili powder
• ⅔ cup sour cream
• Optional toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, chives, extra sour cream, and bacon

Directions:

1. Heat up a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium flame and add the chopped bacon. Cook the bacon until it’s crispy and delightful, then scoop it out, leaving the drippings behind.
2. Drop the butter and diced onions into the pot, stirring them around until soft, which takes about 3-5 minutes.
3. Next, add the minced garlic, stirring just until its fabulous fragrance wafts through your kitchen—around 30 seconds.
4. Dust the mixture with flour, stirring continuously until completely blended and smooth.
5. Now, introduce the diced potatoes, chicken broth, milk, heavy cream, salt, pepper, and ancho chili powder into the pot. Give it a loving stir.
6. Turn up the heat to bring the soup to a gentle boil, cooking until the potatoes yield to a fork – around 10 minutes.
7. Once the potatoes have softened, lower the heat and carefully ladle half of the soup (about half) into a blender and blend until velvety. Alternatively, use an immersion blender directly in the pot.
8. Pour the pureed soup back into the pot and stir in the sour cream and that crispy bacon you prepared earlier.
9. Let the soup simmer together for another 15 minutes, allowing all the flavors to meld beautifully.
10. Dish up this comforting soup with your choice of toppings—extra sour cream, cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and chives for a bit of freshness.

Flexible Ingredient Options for Every Cook

If you’re short on gold potatoes, feel free to swap them with russet or red potatoes for a slightly different texture. Need a dairy-free option? Coconut milk can substitute for heavy cream, offering a unique flavor twist. For an even lighter soup, replace bacon with turkey bacon, or omit it altogether for a vegetarian alternative. These alternatives will barely shift the essence of this delightful soup.

Storage Solutions for Your Best Homemade Potato Soup

To store your potato soup and maintain its deliciousness, let it cool to room temperature first. Seal it tightly in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days. When reheating, gently warm on the stovetop, adding a splash of milk if it needs loosening. For longer storage, this soup freezes well. Just portion it out, freeze up to three months, and thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

The Best Accompaniments for Best Homemade Potato Soup

Pair this creamy potato soup with a crisp green salad for a well-rounded meal, or serve it alongside buttery garlic bread to soak up every last drop. A glass of chilled white wine complements the rich creaminess, rounding out the experience. For a kid-friendly touch, grilled cheese sandwiches work wonders. These accompaniments turn a bowl of soup into a feast.

Mastering the Art of Best Homemade Potato Soup

To perfect your potato soup game, don’t rush the blending process; achieving that creamy consistency is key. Adding a pinch of nutmeg can also elevate its warmth. If you’re aiming for more body, include more potatoes, or adjust the ancho chili powder to dial the spice up or down. These simple tweaks ensure your soup will be tops every time.

Seasonal Twists for Best Homemade Potato Soup

Warm up your potato soup with a sprinkle of cinnamon during the fall, or swap out the sour cream for crème fraîche in summer months for a fresher taste. Springtime asparagus or fresh peas provide a light, seasonal touch. Come winter, roasted garlic can deepen the soup’s complexity. Celebrate the changing seasons by adjusting the soup to match.

FAQs:

How do I make the soup thicker?

To thicken the soup further, mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with a bit of cold water and slowly stir it into the simmering soup. Alternatively, adding more potatoes during cooking or pureeing more of the soup will naturally increase its thickness. For extra richness, incorporate an additional spoonful of flour before adding the liquids in the recipe.

Can I use a different kind of onion?

Absolutely! While yellow onions are recommended for their mild sweetness, you can use white onions for a sharper flavor or red onions for a bit of color and a different taste profile. Leeks also make an excellent alternative, providing a subtle, delicate flavor that complements the creamy soup beautifully.

What’s the best way to blend the soup?

Using an immersion blender is the easiest way to achieve a smooth consistency directly in the pot. If you don’t have one, a standard blender will work; just be cautious to only fill it halfway and vent the lid to avoid pressure from hot liquids. Blend in batches and return it to the pot for finishing touches.

How can I make the soup vegetarian?

To make a vegetarian version of this soup, swap the bacon for smoked paprika to maintain that smoky flavor. Replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth. For added protein, consider topping the soup with roasted chickpeas or adding cubed tofu. This approach maintains the soup’s hearty appeal while keeping it plant-based.

Is there a way to make this soup healthier?

To create a lighter version of this potato soup, opt for turkey bacon or omit it entirely for fewer calories. Use reduced-fat milk and cream, or replace them with milk alternates like almond or oat milk. Stir in nutritional yeast instead of cheddar cheese to reduce fat but keep a cheesy flavor essence intact.

Can I prepare this soup in advance?

Yes, this soup is perfect for meal prepping! You can make it a day or two ahead and store it in the refrigerator. Its flavors deepen, making it even more delicious when reheated. When you’re ready to serve, gently reheat it and add any fresh toppings just before serving to ensure they’re vibrant and flavorful.

Print

Best Homemade Potato Soup

This creamy potato soup, enriched with crispy bacon and topped with your favorite garnishes, is a comforting dish that's easy to prepare and deliciously satisfying.

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Keyword Potatoes

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Equipment

• Dutch Oven or soup pot

Ingredients

Potato Soup Ingredients:

• 6 strips bacon uncooked, chopped
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 medium yellow onion diced, about 1.5 cups
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ lbs gold potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups milk
• ⅔ cup heavy cream
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• ¼ - ½ teaspoon ancho chili powder
• ⅔ cup sour cream

Optional Toppings:

• shredded cheddar cheese optional
• chives optional
• extra sour cream optional
• bacon optional

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Instructions

• Prepare all ingredients before you start cooking.
• In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until it becomes crispy and browned.
• Remove the bacon from the pot and let it rest while keeping the drippings in the pot.
• Add unsalted butter and diced onion to the pot. Sauté until the onions are soft, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Incorporate the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, around 30 seconds.
• Sprinkle the flour over the onion mixture, stirring to achieve a smooth consistency.
• Introduce the diced potatoes, chicken broth, milk, heavy cream, salt, pepper, and ancho chili powder. Mix them well.
• Increase the heat to bring the mix to a boil, then cook until the potatoes are fork-tender, roughly 10 minutes.
• Once the potatoes are tender, carefully blend about half of the soup until smooth, either in a blender or using an immersion blender.
• Return the blended soup to the pot and stir in sour cream and reserved bacon pieces.
• Allow the soup to simmer for another 15 minutes before serving.
• Serve hot, garnished with your choice of extra sour cream, bacon bits, cheddar cheese, or chives.

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