This makes a substantial main course soup in winter, served with fresh crusty bread. You will need nothing more than a mixed green salad or fresh winter fruit to follow, such as satsumas or tangerines.
Ingredients:
1.3kg – chicken, 1 – small head of celery, 1 – coarsely chopped onion, 1 – bay leaf, a few fresh parsley sprigs, a few fresh tarragon sprigs, 2.5liters – water, 3 – large leeks, 2 – potatoes cut into chunks, 150ml – dry white wine, 30 tbsp – single cream, 90g – pancetta, 75ml – olive oil and salt and ground black pepper.
Preparation Method:
1) Cut the breasts off the chicken and set aside. Chop the rest of the chicken carcass into 8 pieces and place them in a large pan or stockpot.
2) Chop 4 of the outer sticks of the head of the celery and add them to the pan with coarsely chopped onion. Tie the bay leaf, parsley stalks and tarragon sprigs together to make a bouquet garni and add to the pan. Pour in the cold water to cover the ingredients and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and cover the pan with a lid, then simmer for 1 ½ hours.
3) Remove the chicken form the pan using a slotted spoon and cut off and reserve the meat.
4) Strain the stock through a sieve, then return it to the cleaned pan and boil rapidly until it has reduced in volume to about 1.5 liters.
5) Set about 150g of the leek. Slice the remaining leeks and the remaining celery leaves. Chop the celery leaves and set them aside to garnish the soup.
6) Heat half the oil in a large, heavy pan. Add the sliced leeks and celery, cover and cook over a low heat for about 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened but now browned. Add the potatoes, wine and 1.2litres of the stock.
7) Season with a little salt and plenty of black pepper, bring to the boil and reduce the heat. Part-cover the pan and slimmer the soup for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked.
8) Check and adjust the seasoning as required, bring to the boil and reduce the heat. Part-cover the pan and simmer the soup for 15 minutes.
9) Thickly slice the reserved leeks, add to the frying pan and cook, stirring occasionally for a further 4 minutes until they are just cooked.
10) Stir in the crea, if using and the chicken and leek mixture. Reheat the soup gently.
11) Serve with warmed bowls. Crumble the pancetta over the soup and sprinkle with the celery leaves or reserved leek slices.