Fennel vichyssoise
Equipment
Ingredients
- 25 g butter
- 1 fennel bulb about 200–250 g (7–8 oz), green feathery tops trimmed and reserved, core discarded, bulb roughly chopped
- 4 spring onions thickly sliced
- 150 g potato diced
- 450 ml chicken stock see page 10
- 250 ml milk
- 150 ml double cream
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat the butter in a saucepan, add the chopped fennel, spring onions and potato, toss in the butter then cover and fry gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until softened but not browned.
- Pour in the stock, season and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes until the vegetables are just tender and still tinged green.
- Allow the soup to cool slightly, then purée in batches in a blender or food processor until smooth. Pour the purée through a fine sieve back into the saucepan, then press the coarser pieces of fennel through the sieve using the back of a ladle. Mix in the milk and cream, then taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Chill well.
- Ladle the soup into small bowls or glasses half filled with ice and garnish with the reserved green feathery tops, snipped into small pieces.
Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:
For classic vichyssoise, omit the fennel and spring onions and add instead 375 g (12 oz) leeks that have been slit, rinsed well in cold water then drained and sliced. Stir half the cream into the soup and swirl the rest through the bowls before serving. Garnish with a sprinkling of a few snipped chives.
