Fennel Leek Soup

 

The last few days have been unbelievably beautiful -- warm, with soft golden light, and the leaves which have just begun to color slowly drifting to the ground. More of the same is predicted for tomorrow and the next day. Not really soup weather at all. However, cold and rainy weather is out there somewhere in our not too distant future and I look forward to making this again.

I suspect fennel of having some sort of addictive quality because I've yet to find a fennel soup that I didn't immediately love and crave. I've had fennel and squash soup, and fennel and tomato soup, but my favorite so far is fennel with leek soup.

This also happens to be the easiest soup ever:

Fennel Leek Soup   (adapted from the wonderful and highly recommended Herbfarm Cookbook)

4servings

1 large fennel bulb
1 leek
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon Pernod (optional)
2 cups of chicken broth
Salt

1. Clean, then dice the leek. (Although I usually end up chopping it, and then washing it; it seems easier to get the grit out that way.)

2. Trim, then core the fennel. I find it easiest to do this by quartering the fennel lengthwise. It's then easy to see what's core and what's not. Dice the fennel quarters.

3. Heat the olive oil over medium heat and add the leeks and fennel. Salt lightly. Cook, stirring occasionally until the leeks are translucent. This will take between five and ten minutes.

4. Add the broth (and Pernod if you're using it) and simmer until the fennel is soft. This will take about half an hour.

5. Let the soup cool a little and then transfer the soup to a blender and blend until the soup is smooth. (I tried blending this with an immersion blender but thought it wasn't as effective as the regular blender. Fennel is fibrous stuff.) Remember to be careful whenever you blend hot liquid: Hold down the top of the blender using a folded dish towel.  

6. Return it to the soup pot and reheat. Taste, and add more salt if needed. Serve.

Two other favorite fennel soups:
Squash and Fennel Soup
Tomato Fennel Soup

And some more from elsewhere:

Carrot and Fennel Soup
White Bean and Fennel Soup
Potato Fennel Soup with Apples
Roasted Red Pepper, Fennel, and Lentil Soup

Comments

[Andrea]

Wow, that does sound good and I totally adore fennel and leaks. I have that cookbook, but I haven't quite gotten around to it yet. I'll pull it off the shelf soon, thanks to this post! I love the look of garnish floating on top. Just beautiful!

[roopa]

I need to stop reading your blog when I'm hungry - everything you make looks SO GOOD!!!

[anh]

I love fennel but never try to use i in soup before. I love the shot of your soup bowl - so comfy!

[Kitt]

Delicious! I love fennel in any way, shape or form. This looks so good and easy.

[ann]

Oh my! That sounds so delicious!! I'll have to show Isaac so he can make it for me. He'll be head over heels. I'm glad this fall is being all golden and shiny and warm for you. Makes the transition that much easier, doesn't it?

[Keswickian]

I haven't tried that one yet. Looks fabulous. Maybe I should have gotten THAT cookbook instead of the other one.

[pigtown*design]

At the rugby games in Wales, everyone waves inflatable leeks... and daffodils.

[redmenace]

This soup sounds delicious. Your picture is also lovely. Love this blog!

[Erik]

Fennel seriously rocks; I don't know why it is not more popular. Anyway, I really enjoy garnishing fennel soup with orange zest, both for look and the classic pairing of flavors. Of course, the Pernod helps take care of the flavor pairing too.

[Peter]

Ooooh, I like this anise, super anise flavour here. The cream would mellow it just enough.

[Elizabeth]

OOh Julie! That soup looks incredibly creamy! I have never used fennel in a recipe before! (other than seeds..)

[adele]

I've eaten potato and leek soup, and potato and fennel soup, but I never thought to try combining leek and fennel.

This one goes on the to-do list.

[michelle]

Beautiful! I love those fennel fronds floating in it - the perfect garnish to a perfect-sounding soup. Now, if I could just find myself some leeks here...

[Jesse]

My winter garden isn't growing fast enough - I want to try this now!

[Pam]

I love fennel, and I'm always looking for new recipes. I'll definitely be giving this one a try! And the photo of it is beautiful!

[Patricia Scarpin]

It's no longer soup season here, Julie, but this is tempting! Love both flavors and haven't had them in quite a while.

[claudia (cook eat FRET)]

your photos are out of control
putting me to shame

i am making this
it has no cream or butter
thank you
thank you

[John]

Dang, that looks pretty easy!

[heather]

ohhh yum! fennel and leek together sounds delicious!!

[Janet]

This looks fantastic...I can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing!

[Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)]

I'm a more recent convert to fennel, so I'm still discovering all the wonder ways to cook with it. This soup does look lovely, and I'm bookmarking.

[lydia saucepan]

i love that photo! did you mean for the fennel to look like trees on a snowy winters day or did they just do it themselves? so pretty.

also it has come to my attention that my haphazard attempts at soup improvisation are never particularly fulfilling, so i definitely need to adopt a few more recipes to my repertoire - will definitiely have to try this one out...

[Renee]

That looks so beautiful! I will try it.

[The Food Hunter]

I love fennel. I'll have to give this recipe a try. Thanks

[Susan from Food Blogga]

I am a huge fan of fennel. I love this recipe, and the soup looks deliciously velvety.

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[Hilary]

I LOVE fennel and I'm so glad that soup season is back.

[Meg]

This looks fantastic!!!!! I love these two flavors!

[Laurie Constantino]

I completely agree with you about the Herbfarm cookbook - it's one of my favorites. As for your soup, it's gorgeous and sounds very delicious.

[colloquial cook]

It has become one of my favourite soups of the season! So simple and so delicious! I would advise anyone to give it a go if they have fennel and leek hanging around in the cupboards!

[Dog In The Car]

What a delicious sounding recipe! I'm printing this and going to add it to my fridge with a magnet for trying! Thanks again ...

[Crystal Santos]

Thanks for this! Beautiful recipe and so easy!

[Leek Soup]

I hope you all enjoyed the chill evening. You made a right choice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrSTQDVc0tc Always love to have Fennel Leek Soup. I am a huge fan of fennel. I love this recipe, and the soup looks delicious.

[molly]

This is so good, so creamy for a non dairy recipe- didn't have pernod, so I added some fennel seeds from the plant in the garden. I'm hoping it freezes well.

[Wilton Winrow]

Ow, thank God I found this recipe! I've been searching for soup recipes so I can include it in my meal plan for this coming week. I avoid eating much solid foods because my dentist in Miami, FL extracted my tooth. Maybe on 1st week of April my mouth is totally healed.

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