Description
Hearty potato and bacon soup emerges as a comforting classic from European kitchens. Crispy bacon-topped cheesy toast complements this creamy, satisfying meal, inviting warm enjoyment at your table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs / 680 g potatoes (4 medium), peeled and diced
- 12 slices bacon, diced (6 for soup, 2 for toast, 4 for garnish)
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 liter / 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 240 ml / 1 cup milk or heavy cream
- 2 tbsps butter (optional, for extra richness)
- 6 slices crusty bread (baguette or sourdough)
- 100 g / 1 cup shredded cheddar or Gruyere cheese
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Bacon Preparation: Crisp bacon in a large pot over medium heat until golden. Remove bacon to a paper towel, reserving 2 tablespoons of rendered fat in the pot.
- Aromatic Base: Sauté onions in bacon drippings until translucent, then add garlic and cook until fragrant, creating a flavor foundation for the soup.
- Potato Infusion: Introduce cubed potatoes and fresh thyme to the pot. Pour chicken broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes become tender and easily pierced with a fork.
- Soup Transformation: Blend the soup using an immersion blender or carefully transfer to a standard blender. Create a rustic texture by partially blending, maintaining some potato chunks for added character.
- Creamy Finishing: Stir in milk or cream to develop a luxurious consistency. Add butter for richness, then season with salt and freshly ground pepper to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Cheesy Toast Creation: Preheat broiler and arrange bread slices on a baking sheet. Generously top with shredded cheese and sprinkle reserved bacon crumbles. Broil until cheese melts and turns golden and bubbly.
- Serving: Ladle the creamy soup into bowls, garnish with remaining crisp bacon pieces, and serve alongside the golden, cheesy toast.
Notes
- Control Bacon Fat: Carefully manage the amount of bacon fat used for sautéing to balance flavor without making the soup overly greasy.
- Blending Technique: Experiment with blending methods to achieve desired soup consistency – fully smooth or partially chunky for textural contrast.
- Dairy Flexibility: Substitute milk with lighter options like almond or oat milk for a lighter version, or use half-and-half for extra richness.
- Season Gradually: Add salt and pepper incrementally, tasting as you go to prevent over-seasoning and ensure perfect flavor balance.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg