The Ancient Peruvians called potatoes, the food of the gods. And for good reason. In my opinion nothing could be better. In my family we could eat potatoes everyday. Recently I have been branching out and using more and more varietals, especially sweet potatoes from South America, Africa and Japan.
Yesterday I saw beautiful field purple potatoes and dark purple sweet potatoes in the Shuk. Conveniently right beside the potato bins were the chilis. Match made in heaven. I came home and made this spicy take on a traditional French favorite.
BT's Food Of The Gods Vichyssoise
Ingredients:
3 pounds (1.4 kilos) purple potatoes
1 pound (500 grams) purple sweet potatoes
1 medium leek
1 red onion
2 cloves garlic - crushed
2 tablespoons (30 ml) ghee or coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) harissa
2 whole serano chilis
1/2 red cabbage (small head)
1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) yellow mustard seeds
1 teaspoon (4 grams) dried thyme
3 large sprigs fresh thyme
1 small bunch fresh dill
1 1/2 ounces (45 ml) Pisco
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
kosher salt
ground black pepper
8 cups (1.85 l.) filtered water
2/3 cup (125 ml heavy cream) - 15%
1 small bunch cilantro (optional)
Directions:
Wash leeks thorough and rough chop
Rough chop cabbage
Dice onion
Dice chili including seeds and veins
Peel potatoes and reserve in cold acidulated water
Place heavy gauge cocotte on medium heat and add ghee/oil
When fat is hot add mustard seeds and stir until they begin to pop
Immediately add harissa, chopped chili and red onion
Stir for 1 minutes and then add leeks and cabbage and garlic
Turn heat down to medium low
Add salt, and dried thyme
Cook for 3-4 minutes or until vegetables are totally wilted
Add Pisco and cook 30 seconds to burn off alcohol
Add water and bring to boil
Add two types of potatoes and fresh thyme
Cover pot and reduce heat to low
Cook until potatoes are tender
Remove fresh thyme sprig
Let cool 5 minutes
Add dill
Blend soup with wand blender trying to process as little as possible to avoid gumminess
Add cream
Add lemon zest and juice
Taste for salt and pepper
Serve with creme fraiche and cilantro or grated cucumber
Enjoy! !בתיאבון
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