Irish Potato and Leek Soup with Crispy Bacon

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs Potatoes
• 2 medium Leeks
• 6 cups Vegetable Broth
• 6 slices Bacon
• 0.5 cup Heavy Cream
• 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 2 tablespoons Chives

Instructions

1. 1Prepare your ingredients: Peel and cut the 1.5 lbs potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Wash the 2 medium leeks, then slice them thinly, using only the white and light green parts. Wash and finely chop the 2 tablespoons of chives.
2. 2In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat (350°F / 175°C). Add the sliced leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are softened and translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes. Do not let them brown.
3. 3Add the cubed 1.5 lbs potatoes and the 6 cups of vegetable broth to the pot with the leeks. Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer gently for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the potatoes are very tender when pierced with a fork.
4. 4While the soup is simmering, place the 6 slices of bacon in a cold, 10-inch skillet. Cook over medium heat (350°F / 175°C), turning the bacon occasionally, until it is evenly crispy and browned, about 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer the crispy bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to drain and cool.
5. 5Once the potatoes are tender, carefully use an immersion blender to blend the soup directly in the pot until it is completely smooth and creamy. If you do not have an immersion blender, you can transfer the soup in batches to a regular blender, being careful to vent the lid, and blend until smooth, then return it to the pot.
6. 6Stir the 0.5 cup of heavy cream into the blended soup. Add the 1 teaspoon of salt and the 0.5 teaspoon of black pepper. Stir well to combine everything.
7. 7Crumble the cooled 6 slices of bacon into small pieces. Ladle the hot soup into 4 individual bowls. Garnish each bowl generously with the crumbled bacon and the chopped 2 tablespoons of chives.

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