Grandpa Joe's
Potato Soup with Bacon

A new favorite of mine thanks to my granddaughter, Abigail.

About this recipe

When your granddaughter asks you to prepare Potato Soup with Bacon for her, your only response is, "Sure!", even if you have never made it before.  There are, of course, many many recipes readily available, but few have much in common other than the potatoes and bacon.  The opportunity to create my version by taking what I considered the best of each of the others was too tempting to ignore.  Needless to say, this version passed muster.

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces bacon, cut into one-inch pieces
  • 2½ pounds russet potatoes, after peeling and dicing
  • 2 cups sweet onion, diced
  • 2 cups carrot, diced
  • 1 cup celery, diced
  • 1 leek, whites only, roughly chopped
  • 8 cups chicken stock
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Sauté the bacon over medium heat until the pieces are crisp.  Remove and set aside.
  2. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and leeks and sauté over medium heat until translucent and partially caramelized.  Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Add the potatoes and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes.
  4. Add the stock and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes, or until a sharp knife easily pierces the potatoes (overcooking is better than undercooking).
  5. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a separate pan and stir in the flour.  Cook the roux over low heat for 5 minutes.  
  6. Add the milk to the roux, and cook over medium heat until the milk begins to simmer.  Then add the milk to the soup pot and return the soup to a boil.  Simmer, covered, over low heat for another 2 to 3 minutes.
  7. Remove the soup pan from the heat.  Using an immersion blender (or working in small batches using a conventional blender), puree the soup until smooth.
  8. Taste, and adjust the seasoning, if necessary, with more salt and pepper.
  9. Add the reserved bacon and serve immediately, garnished with your favorite grated cheese.
Potato Soup with Bacon garnished with cheddar cheese.

Notes

  • Cheddar, Colby, and Pepper Jack cheeses work particularly well as a garnish for this dish.
Posted: September 2015.