Broccoli and watercress soup

by Ed Halmagyi

Ingredients

  • 1 leek, finely diced
  • 2 sticks celery, finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely sliced
  • ½ bunch thyme, finely chopped
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 1L vegetable stock
  • 2 head broccoli, chopped
  • 1 bunch watercress
  • 1 bunch basil
  • salt flakes and freshly-milled black pepper
  • chopped parsley and sour cream, to serve

Instructions

1 Saute the leek, celery, garlic, thyme and bay leaves in butter in a large saucepan over a moderate heat for 5 minutes, until softened. Pour in the wine, simmer briefly, then add the stock and bring to a boil.
2 Add the broccoli and cook until just tender, then place the saucepan in a sink of iced water to chill rapidly in order to avoid browning.
3 Blanch the watercress and basil in a saucepan of boiling water, then refresh in iced water. Add to the soup, remove the bay leaves, then purée until very smooth. Season with salt and pepper, then gently re-warm and serve wih parsley and sour cream.