leek and potato soup

Ingredients :
Known under the name of "Vichissoise soup" this recipe was created by a French chef in exile in the U.S.
It is a soup that is eaten chilled in the heat of the summer. Personally, I enjoy the blend of leek, the potato and crème fraiche flavour. Here, I will give you a recipe for a hot version of this French traditional soup.

leek and potato soup recipe for 4 to 6 people :
350g leek, the white part, finely chopped
350g potato, cut in big cubes
80g butter
3 dl double cream
2 l water
some thyme and a bay leaf wrapped in a small piece of muslin.
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Direction :

1) Heat up the butter in a thick bottom pot. Then add the leek.
2) Cover and allow to gently sweat off the finely sliced leek for 5-6 minutes.
Afterwards add the potatoes.
3) Add the water and bring to the boil. Season well with salt and pepper and plunge your little muslin parcel in the liquid.
4) Gently simmer for 35 minutes.
5) Take the muslin out and blitz your soup until smooth. Then, slowly add the cream while mixing to incorporate it.

Here I serve my soup with some croutons and some grated Gruyère cheese. This is an idea of garnish, up to you to garnish your soup as you wish.