Warm up chilly days with this delicious, hearty soup.
Warm up chilly days with this delicious, hearty soup.
Ingredients
- 4 russet potatoes, baked until tender
- 6 strips bacon
- 1 1/2 tablespoons oil or butter
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup flour
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 4 green onions, diced
- 2 ounces hot pepper cheese, shredded
- 2 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
- In a large skillet, cook bacon until browned and crisp. Drain, let cool, and chop or crumble and set aside. Cut the baked potatoes in half lengthwise and then in half again. Gently scoop out the potato while reserving the skins for later.
- In a stockpot, heat the oil or butter over medium heat. Add the yellow onion and garlic and cook for about 10 minutes until the onions are soft and translucent. Stir in the flour and gradually add the chicken broth. Bring to a boil and add the potatoes, thyme, basil, and smoked paprika. Cook for 5 to 10 more minutes and then turn off the heat. Add the green onions, cheeses, milk, and bacon. Stir until the cheese is melted. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with extra cheese or bacon.
- If desired, place the potato skins on a sheet pan. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika and top each with a thin pat of butter. Place the sheet pan under the broiler for a few minutes until skins are crisp. Serve as a garnish with the soup.
Serving Suggestion
Serve this soup with dense, chewy bread or a bagel sandwich for a quick lunch or with ham or pork, pierogis, stuffed peppers, sausage dishes and crispy fish or chicken recipes for dinner. Vegetarian option: substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth, omit the bacon, and use smoked cheddar cheese. Garnish with bac’un bits when serving.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 354, Fat: 14 g, Cholesterol: 33 mg, Sodium: 412 mg, Carbohydrate: 46 g, Dietary Fiber: 5 g, Protein: 12 g
