Potato and leek soup

Ingredients

• 60ml (1/4 cup) olive oil
• 1 brown onion, halved, chopped
• 3 mushrooms, sliced
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 4 medium (about 700g) peeled potatoes, cubed
• 2 leeks (pale section), washed, dried, thinly sliced
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 stalk celery, sliced
• ½ cup white wine
• 1.25L (5 cups) vegetable stock
• 3 thick slices day-old white bread, crusts removed, cut into 2cm cubes
• Pinch of salt
• 2 tbs finely chopped fresh chives

Method

1. Heat 1 tbs of the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until the onion softens. Add the mushrooms and saute for another 3 minutes.
2. Add the potato, leek, carrots and celery and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until leek softens.
3. Add the wine and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and gently boil, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until potato is soft. Remove from heat and set aside for 10 minutes to cool.
4. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 180°C. Place bread in a roasting pan. Drizzle with remaining oil and toss until bread is evenly coated. Toast in preheated oven, shaking pan occasionally, for 10 minutes or until crisp. Remove croutons from oven and set aside.
5. Transfer one-third of the potato mixture to the jug of a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a clean saucepan. Repeat in 2 more batches with the remaining potato mixture.
6. Place the soup over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until hot. Taste and season with salt.
7. Ladle the soup among serving bowls. Sprinkle with chives and top with croutons. Serve immediately.