BLT Soup

By dette

Bacon, Leek, and Tomato Soup is a soup for all seasons!
So easy and too delicious; you'll make this one January or August, year after year. It is especially welcome on rainy nights.

Ingredients

• EVOO
• 6 slices lean, smoky good quility bacon, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
• 3 small clery ribs from the ehart of the stalk, fiely chopped
• 2 small to medium carrots
• 3 leeks, rough tops and roots trimmed
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and clack pepper
• 3 meduim starch potatoes, such as idaho, peeled
• 2 quarts chicken stock
• 1 14 0z. can petite-diced tomatoes, drained
• A handful of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
• Crusty bread, for dunking and mopping

Preparation

Step 1

Heat a medium soup pot of ddep-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Tot he hot pan add a drizzle of EVOO and the bacon. Cook the bcon, until brown and crisp. Remove the bacon to a pepr towel-lined plate and reserve. Drain off all but 2 tbls of the remaining fat and add the chopped celery. While the celery cooks over medium heat, peel the carrots, then lay them flat on a cutting board. Hold each carrot at the root end and use the vegetable peeler to make long, thin strips. Chop the thin slices into small carrot bits of chips 1/2 inch wide. Add the chips to the celery and sitr. Cut the leeks lengthwise and then into 1/2 inch moons. Place the sliced leeks in a colander nd run them under cold water, separating the layers to wash away allt he trapped grit. When the liiks are clean, shake off the water and add to the celery and carrots. Stir the veggies together, add the bay leaf, and season with salt and pepper. While the leeks cook until wilted, 3-4 minues, slice the potatoes.

Cut each potato into thirds crosswise. Stand each potato third upright and slice it thinly. The pieces will look like raw potato chips.

Add the stock to the vegetables and bring to a boil. Reduce the ehatr and add the potatoes and tomatoes. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and starting to break up a bit. Add the reserved bacon and parsley and stir. Adjust the seasonings. SErve immediately with the crusty bread.