When it's cold outside, snowing or raining, there is nothing better than a warm bowl of delicious and filling soup to comfort you from the inside out. I'm not overly adventurous with my soup choices, I tend to opt for tomato based soups most of the time, or butternut squash is also a regular choice. However, this Cheesy Potato & Leek Soup is definitely my favourite soup! It's creamy, filling and full of cheese flavour. It is everything I'm looking for in a soup! I like it chunky, with the pieces of potato and leek intact, but you could also blitz this Cheesy Potato & Leek Soup into a puree. It's a great vegetarian soup choice, and I've made it successfully with both cow's milk and almond milk - as well as a half and half mix. I have also included a recipe for wholemeal rolls which go perfectly with soup and are great for dipping!
Step by step...
To start, I made the bread rolls as they take longer than the soup. In a large bowl I stirred both flours, the yeast and salt together. I added the luke warm water and oil and mixed to form a dough.
Then I put it in my stand mixer with the dough hook attachment and let it knead for 8 minutes. Once it was done I placed it into an oiled bowl, covered it with cling film and put it in a warm place for 1 hour to rise.
After it was risen I knocked the air out of it on a floured mat, then using scales I divided the dough into 12 equal pieces. They weighed about 77g each. I rolled each piece into a ball and place them onto lined baking trays. Then I covered them loosely with cling film and a tea towel, and again left them for 1 hour to rise. Before baking I sprinkled some oats over the top.
They baked for 20 minutes in a hot oven and came out lovely and golden.
Meanwhile, while waiting for the bread to prove, I had been making the Cheesy Potato & Leek Soup. I sauteed the leeks and onion in a large pan using the oil and butter.
I added the flour and let it cook for a couple of minutes. Then I added the milk slowly, stirring to make sure no lumps of flour remained. Then followed the water, stock cubes and potato.
I let the Cheesy Potato & Leek Soup simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the potato pieces were soft. Making sure to stir it often so it didn't catch on the bottom of the pan. When it was done I turned the heat off and stirred in the cheese. I then added salt to taste. My preference is to add 3 tsp, but you may like less depending on your preference.
You can serve the Cheesy Potato & Leek Soup straight away, or once it is cooled down fully you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge and heat up either on the hob or in the microwave. Apart from the cheese, if you use a low fat or plant based milk, this Cheesy Potato & Leek Soup is also pretty healthy without compromising on flavour.
We absolutely love this Cheesy Potato & Leek Soup in my house, and it never lasts more than a couple of days. I've even eaten it for breakfast in the past! Whenever I have the time to make it it's a real treat and it really is perfectly paired with the wholemeal bread rolls. They are so easy to make too, and I even snuck some seeds in there too without my partner noticing!
Recommended equipment & ingredients*
| Baking trays | Mixing bowls | Cooling rack |
| Kitchen scales | Fast action yeast | Metal dough scraper |
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More soup recipes...
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| Butternut Squash & Tomato Soup |
Cheesy Leek & Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
- Knob of butter
- 3 Leeks sliced
- 1 Medium onion diced
- 100 g Plain flour
- 4 Large jacket size potatoes (about 700g) peeled and diced
- 1.2 litres Cow's milk or dairy free milk warmed in a pan
- 1.2 litres Boiling water
- 2 Vegetable stock cubes
- 200 g Mature cheddar grated
- 2-3 tsp Salt to taste
Instructions
- Add the oil and butter to a large pan (I use a jam making pan) and warm on a medium heat for a few minutes
- Add the sliced leeks and diced onion to the pan, and cook them for approx 8 minutes until soft
- Add the flour, stir it in and cook for 2 minutes
- Add the milk slowly, and stir between each addition to make sure no lumps of flour remain
- Add the boiling water, stock cubes and diced potato. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it bubble for 15-20 minutes, until the potato pieces are soft. Make sure to stir it often so it doesn't catch on the bottom of the pan
- When it is done, turn the heat off and stir in the cheese. It will melt into the soup
- Then add salt to taste. I like to add 3 tsp, but you may like less depending on your preference or the strength of the cheese
- Serve immediately, or allow to cool fully and store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days
Notes
Ingredients
- 250 g Strong white bread flour
- 250 g Plain wholemeal flour
- 7 g Sachet of fast action yeast
- 1 ½ tsp Salt
- 50 ml Olive oil
- 320 ml Luke warm water
- 20 g Sunflower seeds optional
- 15 g Linseeds optional
- 10 g Oats optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir the strong white bread flour, wholemeal flour, yeast and salt together. Make sure not to pour the salt directly over the yeast, add them on separate sides of the bowl
- Mix the oil with the luke warm water in a jug and pour into the flour mixture. Stir together until a dough forms
- Knead the dough by hand for 10 minutes on a floured surface, or put in a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment and leave it to knead for 8 minutes on a medium speed
- Place the kneaded dough into a large bowl that has been brushed all over on the inside with a light coating of olive oil. Cover the bowl tightly with cling film and put it in a warm place for 1 hour for the dough to rise
- Tip the dough out onto a floured surface and knead very briefly, just to knock the air out of it
- Using scales, divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. They should weigh approx 77g each
- Roll each piece into a ball and place them onto lined baking trays. Cover them loosely with cling film and a tea towel and leave them for 1 hour to prove
- Pre-heat your oven to 200C Fan/220C/425F/Gas Mark 7
- Sprinkle some oats over the top of each roll, then bake for 20 minutes until golden. You know they are done when you tap them on the bottom and they sound hollow
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days
If you like this, check out more of my Savoury recipes!
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Donna
I think potato and leek is my favourite soup. It's certainly the one I make the most! Cheesy is always welcome! #CookBlogShare
thebakingexplorer
Me too Donna, I love making this soup!
Monika Dabrowski
Love your hearty leek potato soup and love your healthy rolls! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare
thebakingexplorer
Thank you Monika!
Corina Blum
This looks yummy! I love leek and potato soup and the cheese in this just makes it even better! Thanks so much for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice
thebakingexplorer
Thanks Corina! Cheese makes everything so much better 😀
cakespy
Soup and rolls = simple perfection. This is the ideal winter meal!!
thebakingexplorer
I agree! It's everything I want during winter!
Cat
I've never thought of adding cheese to leek and potato soup but it sounds delicious. Your rolls look really tasty too x
thebakingexplorer
If there's a way to add cheese to something, I will find it...! 😀
Mandy
Yum! Love leek and potato soup but have never thought to add cheese to it. Will have to try this after Veganuary.
thebakingexplorer
It could work with vegan cheese, do let me know if you try it!
Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food
We are having the winter of winters here, and this comforting meal is just what I need! I am all about potato leek soup, and these rolls look absolutely delicious as an accompaniment. I work from home, so I'm excited to try baking these: it'll be a great project to have going on "in the background". Thanks for sharing with #cookblogshare!
thebakingexplorer
I really hope you enjoy my recipe Michelle!
jenny paulin
This looks perfect for the cold weather we are having at the moment. I, like you, usually opt for tomato based soups but this one of yours does look so creamy and delicious. your healthy rolls look great and are the best accompaniment for warming soup x
thebakingexplorer
Thank you Jenny! There's nothing better than a warm bowl of soup when the weather is so cold 🙂
Alison's Allspice
Your rolls look outstanding, not to mention the soup! I love baking my own bread, definitely saving your recipe for later!
thebakingexplorer
Thank you Alison! Do let me know what you think if you give it a try!