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Creamy Leek and Potato Soup {without Cream}

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This creamy leek and potato soup is satisfyingly delicious and comforting without using any  cream.  Find out how I do it.
Prep time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 28 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Makes: 5
Main
British
Freezable

If you are looking for a creamy, satisfying leek and potato soup recipe, then you have come to the right place.  And what is more, I don’t use heavy cream in this recipe. Instead, I use a special technique to make sure this soup is thick, creamy, and hearty without that extra cream. I use this same technique in this Creamy Parsnip Soup (Easy and Satisfying in 20 Minutes!).

An image of tan soup in a bowl topped with white cream and croutons all on a green tile background.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Comforting:  The thick hearty texture of this leek and potato soup without cream is absolutely satisfying and wonderful. I can’t wait for you to try it. It pairs perfectly with this Easy Sauteed Chicken Breasts Recipe.
  • Budget-friendly: This leek and potato soup recipe is fairly affordable since the majority of the soup is made up of potatoes and broth.
  • Easy: I consider this an easy soup because there are just 5 simple ingredients just like my Fast Chorizo Carbonara.
  • Healthy: Did I mention it’s healthy too? A bowl of my easy leek potato soup only has 250 calories and 13 grams of fat.

Looking for some other hearty and satisfying soups? I recommend my Creamy Hash Brown Potato Soup {Easiest Soup Ever!}, Easy Tuscan White Bean Soup (Creamy!), or Creamy Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup.

Ingredients

Ingredients laid out on a pale blue background with arrows pointing to the different food items.

The ingredients that make this Leek and Potato Soup recipe fantastic are the following:

Leeks
If you have never cooked with leeks before, then you are missing out. Their mild onion flavor lends a sweetness to this soup that you just can’t get with any other vegetable.

Maris Piper Potatoes
The potatoes are the heart and soul of this hearty soup. I like Maris Piper potatoes because they are small, so they cook up fast, and they are starchy, which helps the soup thicken.

Tarragon
I use tarragon in this soup to give it a little something unique. I love the flavor of tarragon and I feel it blends nicely with the leeks in this soup.

See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and quantities.

Variations/ Adaptations

Make it Vegan: Skip the butter and creme fraiche and instead use olive oil and a vegan cream cheese.

Sub the Chicken Stock: If you want, you can use vegetable stock in this recipe.

Gluten Free: You can make sure this is a gluten free meal by double checking that the stock or broth you use is gluten free. Everything else in this recipe is already gluten free.

How to make Leek and Potato Soup

A hand with red nail polish holding the bottom part of a leek on a cutting board.

Step 1: Chop the tough part (about the top inch) of the leeks off, then spread the leeks and wash the insides thoroughly to remove any grit.

Green leeks sliced on a cutting board next to a large silver and black knife.

Step 2: Slice your leeks using a sharp knife.

Green leeks, butter and pepper in a silver pan with blue handles.

Step 3: Place the chopped leeks, salt, and pepper into a large stock pot and sauté over medium/low heat for around 8 minutes.

A red spatula stirring the green leeks and pepper in a silver pan with blue handles.

Step 4: After 8 minutes, add the garlic and dried tarragon and mix.

Cut up potatoes on a cutting board laying next to a large silver and black knife.

Step 5: Peel and dice your potatoes.

Yellow and white broth topped with a pile of green dried tarragon.

Step 6: Add the potatoes and chicken stock to the pot along with a generous amount of salt and pepper.

A red spatula in the silver pan with blue handles stirring the yellow liquid.

Step 7: Cook the contents of the pot for at least 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.

An immersion blender in a pan of creamy light yellow substance.

Step 8: Using a hand blender, blend to your desired consistency. (This is what makes it creamy!)

Hint: The more you blend your soup with your hand blender, the creamier it will be, so don’t be afraid of over-blending.

Do you love having a hearty bowl of soup before dinner as much as I do? Then try pairing this soup with a Healthy Crispy Chicken Wrap {in the air fryer!}, Thin Pork Chops in Air Fryer (Tender & Quick), or even Air Fryer Ribeye Steak In Just 10 Minutes!

Tips

  • I recommend using starchy potatoes versus waxy potatoes since the waxy potatoes will not have enough starch to thicken the soup on their own.
  • Add bacon to this for a deeper flavor.
  • Season generously with salt and lots of black pepper to balance the creaminess.

Serving Suggestions

This recipe for leek and potato soup is super easy to make for a main meal, a side, or a tasty little appetizer. Any way you eat it, these are some other recipes I feel pair really well with it.

Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions

You can most definitely make this ahead of time for weekly lunches or quick dinners. But you can also make it and store the leftovers for later in the week or month. Once made, place it in and air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or the freezer for up to 3 months.

For reheating from the refrigerator, place the soup in a microwave safe dish and microwave in 15 second bursts, stirring in between until the soup is warmed through. You can also reheat on the stovetop over medium heat until warmed through.

When reheating from frozen, you can use the same instructions as for reheating from the refrigerator, the methods will just take a little longer.

Hot tip: If reheating in the microwave, remember to place a towel or paper towel over the bowl so any popping from the soup doesn’t get the microwave dirty.

Recipe FAQs

Is this recipe considered an old fashioned potato leek soup?

Actually, it is pretty close. Old fashioned leek potato soup does not use any type of cream or creme fraiche to make it creamy, just a hand blender. So if you leave those products out, then you have yourself and old fashioned potato leek soup.

Why does my leek and potato soup taste bitter?

My guess would be that you burned your garlic or your leeks. Garlic and leeks are both very sensitive to heat and therefore must be heated over low heat for a very short amount of time. If you cook them too long or too hot, you can burn them and they turn bitter.

What is the best thing to use instead of cream in potato and leek soup?

I recommend either using creme fraiche like I did in this potato and leek soup recipe or using no cream or creme fraiche and just creaming the soup with a hand blender.

How can I thicken a runny soup?

I recommend either making a roux to add, adding some rice or potatoes, or using a bit of cornstarch.

How can I make a thick soup thinner?

The best way to make a thick soup thinner is by adding a bit more of the broth or water you used until it is the consistency you like.

If you tried this Leek and Potato Soup Recipe, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys 💛 Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x

 

Leek and Potato Soup

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No ratings yet
£1.23
Main
British
Freezable
Servings: 4
This creamy leek and potato soup is satisfyingly delicious and comforting without using any cream. Find out how I do it.

Ingredients

  • 500 g leeks washed and thinly sliced
  • 500 g Maris Piper potatoes peeled and roughly chopped
  • 4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • Optional dollop of creme fraiche
  • Optional croutons

Cupboard essentials

  • 800 ml chicken stock
  • Salt
  • 1 tsp dried tarragon

Method

  • To a large saucepan, saute the leeks with butter, salt and pepper over low/medium heat for around 8 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, peel and slice your potatoes
  • Add the garlic and dried tarragon. Fry for a couple more minutes, then add the potatoes and stock.
  • Cook for 15-20 minutes over a low/medium heat, seasoning with salt and pepper.
  • Blend until you achieve your desired consistency, then serve in bowls with an optional dollop of crème fraiche and croutons. Add an extra crack of black pepper and enjoy!

Notes

  • I recommend using starchy potatoes versus waxy potatoes since the waxy potatoes will not have enough starch to thicken the soup on their own.
  • Add bacon to this for a deeper flavor.

Nutrition

Servings: 4 servings
Fat: 13g
Calories: 250kcal
Carbohydrates: 29g
Protein: 5g

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Thank you so much for trying my recipe! I hope you loved it. I’d be so grateful if you could leave a comment/rating - it makes my day hearing your feedback!

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