A simple leek and turnip soup for chilly nights. Made with leeks and turnips sautéed in brown butter, this is a peppery, beautifully balanced five-ingredient soup.
As we careen toward the holidays and winter generally, I’m preoccupied with the idea of warmth. Figuratively, this means enjoying gatherings of family and friends, and making the most of time spent with those I love. Literally speaking, my house is chilly until the afternoon sun tips into the front windows. Until then, I make do with mugs of tea and wool socks. Sometimes, though, these measures aren’t enough. So I make a pot of soup.
Equally warming and sating, soup is my preferred work-at-home lunch. On busy days, it can be as simple as adding garlic and greens to some broth, but on days when I find time, I like to make something a bit more involved.
This brown butter leek and turnip soup is one I’ve been dreaming of for months and only recently found the time to bring it to life. I doubt there are many out there who look forward to turnip season, but they’re reliable and cheap, so it’s worth getting to know them even if they’re not your first choice. Cooked in this soup, the turnips take on the smoky richness of leeks and brown butter, while retaining a peppery finish. This soup balances the richness of brown butter with earthy vegetables beautifully.
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 medium leeks
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 5 cups chopped turnips, from 3 medium turnips, peeled
- 1 quart chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon minced parsley (optional)
- 1 tablespoon minced chives (optional)
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Melt butter in a large stock pot or Dutch over medium heat. Stirring frequently, cook butter to deep golden brown hue with brown flecks that settle to the bottom, 7 - 10 minutes. Keep a close eye after the 5-minute mark, as butter can go from golden to burnt in the blink of an eye; edge heat lower if butter is browning too quickly.
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Meanwhile, chop the light green and white parts of the leeks (discard the dark green tops). If they appear sandy, rinse chopped leeks in a colander and tap to dry. Add leeks, sea salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to brown butter. Cook until leeks are translucent and melt into the butter, about 10 minutes. Fold in turnips and cook 10 minutes more, or until turnips have softened and have golden edges. Pour in broth and bring soup to a boil. Lower heat and simmer until turnips are quite tender, about 20 minutes.
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Working carefully, puree soup in batches. Reheat pureed soup over medium-low hear, stirring often. As soup reheats, taste and add sea salt and black pepper to taste.
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Ladle into bowls and garnish with minced parsley and chives.
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all of the soup! tomato basil, curried butternut squash… the limit does not exist.
Wow. I’m going to make this today. Favorite thing to make in blender: pineapple margaritas!
I make several variations of potato soups that I blend up to get that great consistency. But let’s not pretend: best thing to mix in a blender is margaritas with whatever fruit is in season.
Lmao. So true!!
This soup looks amazing – such a winter warmer! My favorite thing to make in a blender is healthy ice cream with frozen bananas!
Nut milks, smoothies in the summer, and creamy soups in the winter!
Bisques, purees and coulis … any and all are possible with this calibre of blender!
Green goddess dressing.
gazpacho!
Nut milks with cardamon. Any type of Pureed soup. I’ve been obsessed with your pototo leek recipe from last year… excited to try this variation. Fingers crossed. Pick me Wolf Gourmet my kitchen needs a blender upgrade <3
Smoothie bowls (with the leftovers turned into homemade popsicles).
I have a very unsophisticated blender, so my favorite thing is Boston Coolers (a shake/cooler with vanilla ice cream and Vernor’s ginger ale). The best!
Milkshakes and smoothies!
I make smoothies for breakfast every morning- currently with a stick blender. It barely does the job. With this I would make smoothies and lots of soup!
Banana smoothie
Pasted Root Veggies Pureed and then used as a base in delicious soup. Mmmmmmm.
I could make amazing soup, milkshakes, and smoothies with that beauty
Andalusian Gazpacho!
Pancakes made in a blender are the bee’s knees!
I like to make squash soup.
The greatest thing about these kinds of blenders is that you can make so many different things in them. Soups and smoothies. Nut milk or milkshakes. But over the summer I got all the soft and just about rotten heirloom tomatoes from my local farms, roasted them for ever in a hot hot oven and then purred them, skins seeds and all. It is the best winter treat, to go to the freezer and grab a jar of sweet tomato puree and make a pasta sauce or soup or stew or curry. If I were to win, I wouldn’t have to borrow my neighbors blender anymore!
Pancakes made in a blender are amazing!
I love making gazpacho!
I use my blender the most for smoothies…but my favorite thing is different types of hot drinks made in the blender. I don’t do it often so it’s more of a special treat.
Tomatillo salsa, for sure!
Love to make gazpacho! I’m in Los Angeles so it’s the most refreshing way to cool off during those summer nights when it just doesn’t cool down! Pop a few diced of mango and avocado on top with a basil oil drizzle and yum!
Hummus!! Any kind of slushy drinks , smoothies, pesto, nut butters… I would use this for so much!!
Malts! I desperately miss the malt shops of the Midwest where I grew up but need a strong enough blender to work those thick wondrous treats!
Pestos, dips, soups, smoothies!
My favorites are soups, salsas, and nut butter.
My favorite thing to make in a blender is, hands down, a smoothie! So good. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
Gorgeous soup! Love how you’ve made a simple potato soup suddenly a whole lot more interesting. And even though I can’t enter…I’d have to say that hummus probably gets made the most often in mine
My favorite thing to make in a blender is peanut chocolate yogurt based smoothies for my family on Sundays
Interesting idea to use turnips for the soup! I once confused parsnips and turnips and ended up with a much more peppery pasta than I was expecting. I love making hummus and sweet potato shakes in a high-power blender.
I like to make black bean soup
I’m going to try this soup, I actually like turnips. I use my blender mostly for soups, one of our go to soups is broccoli and cheese soup
Matcha lattes!
Restaurant style salsa to serve with frozen margaritas!
Love using it to make vegan cheesecakes. Nothing smooths out that cashew base quite as good as a high power blender.
Hummus! I know, it’s weird 🙂
I would love to try making soups and smoothies in a blender!
OMG, my birthday is Dec 10, so I am crossing my fingers that this ends up being the best birthday present EVER!! I love to make fresh salsas in the blender, like salsa verde with parsley, capers, dill, garlic, whole grain mustard and olive oil!
“Dutch Babies” are a favorite breakfast treat using my blender.
Looks delicious! What great winter flavors. My favorite thing to make in a blender is green mango smoothies for my kiddos-they love them!
Smoothies and soups and “ice cream” with yogurt and frozen fruit, batters and nut-butters…so many choices with a powerful blender!
parsley pesto, creamy soups of any kind, smoothies, hummus, and yes! blender made pancakes are yummy.
It just snowed in Atlanta, so this soup will be perfect. My favorite blender uses are for margaritas and smoothies.
I love making fruit and veggie smoothies along with soups such as butternut squash soup! I also like making chicken vegetable soup and blending it to eat with finger sandwiches (*heart eyes*)
Gazpacho and green smoothies
Red sauce, butternut squash soup and smoothies! Looks like a wonderful addition to the kitchen.
I make a sausage lentil soup and love to puree some of the broth and lentils to thicken it.
My latest blender craze is lettuce soup…my hubby and I luv it!
My blender gets used frequently for strawberry banana smoothies, pesto and tomato sauce —— but my
absolute favorite use is for making clafoutis batter (comes out perfectly every time) !
acai bowls we do all the time even when it’s cold
Hands down: Butternut Squash Soup.
I’d like to make crepe batter, smoothies and pureed soups like this one. I’ve not tried turnips like this before; sounds quite tasty.
Hummus! I love hummus, and a blender makes it so easy to always have great hummus for snacks.
My blender is used for pesto, tomato sauce, and acai, so far 🙂
I would love a blender that could handle nut milks, smoothies, and salsas!