If you think of parsley only as a garnish, you're missing out. The leafy herb can actually make a delicious soup that makes an ideal first course for any dinner. You don't have to be an expert chef to make it either -- as long as you can boil and saute, you can make this tasty soup.
Ingredients
- 1 pound (450 g) fresh parsley
- 3 tablespoons (43 g) unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4 cups (950 ml) chicken stock
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- Juice from 1 lemon
Steps
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:
Preparing the Parsley
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Boil a large saucepan of water. Fill a 6 quart (6 L) saucepan approximately ¾ full with cold water, and place it on the stove. Set the heat to high, and allow the water to come to a full boil. [1] X Research source
- The pot will boil more quickly if you place a lid on it.
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Cook the parsley for 1 minute. Once the water is boiling, place 1 pound (450 g) of fresh parsley in the pan. Allow the parsley to cook until the leaves become bright green and wilted. That should take approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute. [2] X Research source- Keep a careful eye on the parsley so you know when it’s done. If you cook it too long, you may dilute some of its flavor.
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Drain the parsley and set it in cold water. When the parsley is finished cooking, transfer it immediately to a colander to drain it. Next, place it in a bowl of ice cold water. Let it sit for approximately 1 minute to stop the cooking process. Drain it in the colander a final time to remove the water. [3] X Research source
- While you’re draining the cold water from the parsley, it’s a good idea to give the leaves a squeeze with a towel or spin them in a salad spinner to ensure that you get rid of any excess moisture.
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Chop the parsley. When the parsley is dry, gather all of the leaves in a pile. Use a sharp knife to give them a rough chop. Be careful not to press on the parsley too hard with the knife or you may bruise the leaves. [4] X Research source
- There’s no need to remove the stems from the parsley. The stems actually have a nice, sharp flavor that works well in the soup, and because it’s eventually pureed, the stems won’t ruin the texture of the soup either. [5] X Research source
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:
Combining the Garlic, Onion, Stock, and Cream
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Melt the butter in a saucepan. Place a 4 quart (4 L) saucepan on the stove, and add 3 tablespoons (43 g) of unsalted butter. Turn the heat to medium, and allow the butter to warm until it melts completely, which should take approximately 3 to 5 minutes. [6] X Research source
- Cutting the butter in pieces before you place it in the pan can help it melt more quickly.
- Make sure to stir the butter as it’s melting to ensure that it’s heating evenly.
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Add the garlic, onions, salt and pepper and cook until the onions are soft. Once the butter is fully melted, mix in 2 cloves of garlic that have been minced, 1 large yellow onion that’s been thinly sliced, and kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Allow the mixture to cook on medium heat for approximately 6 minutes or until the onions are soft. [7] X Research source
- Use a wooden spoon to stir the garlic and onions as you heat them to ensure that they cook evenly.
- Avoid browning the onions; you just want them to be tender, not caramelized.
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Stir in the stock and heavy cream and simmer until the mixture thickens. When the onions are soft, mix 4 cups (950 ml) of chicken stock and 1 cup (240 ml) of heavy cream into the pan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium low heat for approximately 15 to 20 minutes or until it thickens slightly. [8] X Research source
- Stir the mixture occasionally to ensure that it doesn’t scorch on the bottom.
- If you want the soup to be vegetarian, you can substitute vegetable stock for the chicken stock.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:
Adding the Parsley to the Soup
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Mix the parsley into the pan, and cook until warmed. After the chicken stock, cream, onion, and garlic mixture has thickened a bit, add the cooked parsley to the pan, along with additional salt and pepper to taste. Let the mixture cook on medium for approximately 5 minutes or until it is heated through. [9] X Research source
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Pour the soup into a blender and puree with the lemon juice. Once the soup is warmed through, pour it from the pan into the pitcher of a blender. Add the juice from 1 lemon to the soup, and then puree the mixture until it is smooth. [10] X Research source
- If you have a stick blender, you can puree the soup directly in the saucepan.
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Strain the soup. To ensure that the soup is as smooth as you’d like it, place a fine mesh sieve over the saucepan and strain it. Use a spoon to press the soup through to get rid of any lumps. [11] X Research source
- If the soup has cooled at all during the pureeing and straining, you can return it to the stove and heat it on low again
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Place in bowls and serve. When you’re happy with how smooth the soup is, give it a taste to see if you want to add any more salt and pepper. Next, pour the soup into bowls and serve. [12] X Research source
- If you want to add a little spice to the soup, garnish it with freshly grated horseradish.
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Tips
- If you prefer a thicker soup, consider adding potato to it. Peel and chop 3 to 4 large potatoes, and cook them in the pan with the onion and garlic until tender. Follow the rest of the instructions for making the soup. [13] X Research sourceThanks
- Celery can also help bulk up the parsley soup. Add 3 stalks of celery that have been chopped to the pan with the onion and garlic, and cook until it's soft. You can also try a combination of potatoes and celery if you prefer. [14] X Research sourceThanks
- You can also add peas to the soup for some sweetness. Mix in 1/2 pound (250 g) of peas after you add the broth and finish making the soup as usual. [15] X Research sourceThanks
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Things You'll Need
- Chopping board and knife
- 6 quart (6 L) saucepan
- Large bowl
- 4 quart saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Blender
- Sieve
References
- ↑ http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cream-of-Parsley-Soup
- ↑ http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cream-of-Parsley-Soup
- ↑ http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cream-of-Parsley-Soup
- ↑ http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/herbs-spices/clean-chop-store-parsley
- ↑ http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/03/cooking-with-parsley-flat-leaf-curly-leaf-the-differences.html
- ↑ http://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-melt-butter/#page=0
- ↑ http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cream-of-Parsley-Soup
- ↑ http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cream-of-Parsley-Soup
- ↑ http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cream-of-Parsley-Soup
- ↑ http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cream-of-Parsley-Soup
- ↑ http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cream-of-Parsley-Soup
- ↑ http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cream-of-Parsley-Soup
- ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/9220958/Parsley-soup-recipe.html
- ↑ http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/how-to-make-my-recipe-for-parsley-soup.html
- ↑ https://www.mynewroots.org/site/2013/07/chilled-parsley-and-pea-soup/
About this article
Article Summary
X
To make a hearty parsley soup, fill a large saucepan about 3/4 full of water and bring it to a boil. Add about 1 pound of clean, fresh parsley to the pot and let it boil for 1 minute, then drain it and place it in a bowl of ice water. This process will blanch the parsley and help it retain its bright green color. After 1 minute, drain the parsley again and pat it dry with a paper towel. Chop it into fine pieces with a sharp kitchen knife and set it aside. Next, melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan. Add 2 cloves of minced garlic, a small, sliced onion, and salt and pepper to taste. Let the onions and garlic cook in the butter for about 6 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Once the onions are soft, pour in 4 cups of chicken stock and a cup of heavy cream. Simmer the mixture over low heat for 15-20 minutes, or until it begins to thicken. Stir your soup occasionally so the cream doesn’t stick to the sides of the pan and burn. Mix in the parsley and cook the soup for another 5 minutes. Finally, pour the soup into a blender or food processor along with the juice of 1 lemon and blend it until it’s smooth. For an extra-smooth soup, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve. For ideas on how to season and garnish your parsley soup, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "So glad I found this recipe! It was delicious with some modifications. I had a large bunch of parsley to use up from my CSA. I did add one Russet potato as well as some garlic scapes to the recipe. I also used half the amount of cream and added a half cup of dry white wine. To make a meal out of it, I added a can of albacore tuna!" ..." more
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"So glad I found this recipe! It was delicious with some modifications. I had a large bunch of parsley to use up from my CSA. I did add one Russet potato as well as some garlic scapes to the recipe. I also used half the amount of cream and added a half cup of dry white wine. To make a meal out of it, I added a can of albacore tuna!"
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"I am so glad I checked the recipe here again after I put my soup through the blender. It was full of parsley fiber that had not disappeared. But your recipe points out the product from the blender needs to be pressed through a colander!"
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"Delicious and very tasty. Easy to make."
