1990. SWEET POTATO SOUP with MAPLE and BACON

serves 4 to 6


3 strips bacon
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 Granny Smith apple, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 large leek, sliced (white & pale green parts only)
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 pounds red-skinned potatoes (yams), peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
5 cups chicken broth
1 cinnamon stick
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups half and half, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons maple syrup

In a large saucepan set over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel to drain. When cool, crumble the bacon and set aside.

Add butter to the bacon drippings in the saucepan and turn the heat up to medium-high. Add onion and apple, and sauté for about 5 minutes. Add celery and leek and 1 large leek. Sauté for an additional 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add sweet potatoes and add to the onion mixture, along with chicken broth, cinnamon stick, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until potatoes are tender, 20-25 minutes.

Remove and discard cinnamon stick. Working in batches, purée the sweet potato mixture in a blender until smooth.

Return the soup to the saucepan. Add 1 1/2 cups half and half and maple syrup and heat, stirring frequently. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowl and garnish each serving with 1 tablespoon of half and half, and crumbled bacon.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Dara Michalski, Cookin' Canuck: easy, innovative recipes, November 22, 2009