Recipe: Potato, Leek and Cod Soup

Potato, Leek and Cod Soup
Source: Michael Roberts writing in the Oregonian FOODday, 1/12/93.
Yield: 6 servings

1 lb salt cod (see note)
4 cups milk
1 tbsp butter
2 cups finely sliced leek rounds, white parts only (4 large leeks)
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/2 lb waxy potatoes*
1/2 tsp ground white pepper
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tbsp finely chopped fresh dill

* peeled and thinly sliced (5 medium, see note)

Soak salt cod overnight, changing water at least once.

The next day, drain and place salt cod and milk in pan. In a sauce pan, cover and cook over medium heat 8 minutes. Remove salt from pan. Pour milk through strainer and set milk aside. Flake and discard any skin and bones. Set cod aside.

Melt butter in clean saucepan over low heat. Add leeks and cook stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour. Stir in reserved milk, potatoes and pepper. Increase heat to medium. Cover and cook 15 minutes. Add cod and remove from heat.

This soup may be made up to a day in advance to this point. Cool, cover and refrigerate.

To serve: Place sour cream in small bowl. Reheat soup over medium heat until piping hot. Thin sour cream with 1/2 cup hot soup, then pour mixture into soup pot. Do not heat soup again or sour cream will curdle. Pour soup into tureen, sprinkle with fresh dill and serve.

Note: Other white fish, such as fresh cod, halibut or flounder, be used, either in combination with salt cod or by themselves,

Note: Use waxy, less starchy potatoes, such as new potatoes, low Finnish, Kennebecks, red rose or white rose, to avoid a mealy texture.

Per serving (using fresh cod): 326 calories (27 percent from protein, 46 percent from carbohydrate, 27 percent from fat), 22 grams protein, 38 grams carbohydrate, 10 grams fat, 53 milligrams cholesterol, 195 milligrams sodium.

Exchanges: 1 milk, 1 vegetable, 1 1/2 bread, 2 meat, 2 fat.