Description
This cozy, protein-powered bowl combines sweet apples and sharp cheddar for a comforting and flavorful soup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 slices Bacon (optional)
- 1 medium Sweet Potato, peeled & small diced (~2 cups)
- 1 medium Yellow Onion, small diced (~1½ cups)
- 2 Apples, peeled & diced (~3¼ cups)
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp All-Purpose Flour
- 2 cups Reduced-Sodium Chicken Stock
- 2 cups Hard Apple Cider (or regular cider)
- 1 scant Tbsp Fresh Thyme Leaves
- 2 dried Bay Leaves
- 2 Tbsp Brandy
- ½ cup Heavy Cream (or more to taste)
- 12 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded (~3½ cups)
- Kosher Salt & Cracked Black Pepper, to taste
- Optional Garnishes: Pumpkin Seeds, Grated Parmesan, Crispy Prosciutto or Bacon
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a large soup pot over medium heat until crisp (about 8 minutes); drain most grease, reserving ~2 Tbsp. Set bacon aside.
- Sauté sweet potatoes in reserved bacon fat (or 2 Tbsp oil, if skipping bacon). Season with 1 tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper. After 5 minutes, add onion and apples. Cook 6–8 minutes until soft. Stir in garlic for 30 seconds, then sprinkle flour and stir 2 minutes until incorporated.
- Add liquids: Slowly pour in chicken stock, using a wooden spoon to release browned bits. Stir in cider, thyme, and bay leaves. Bring to boil, then simmer 10–12 minutes until potatoes are tender. Remove bay leaves.
- Puree the soup with an immersion blender or in batches in a stand blender. Return to the pot.
- Stir in brandy and heavy cream over medium-low heat. Warm for 3–4 minutes.
- Melt in cheese: Reduce heat to low, add cheddar in three batches, stirring until smooth each time. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Keep warm.
- Serve hot, ladled into bowls, topped with crispy bacon (if using), pumpkin seeds, and Parmesan.
Notes
For a vegetarian option, skip the bacon and use olive oil instead. Also, apple variety matters; a mix of Gala and Fuji gives the best flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 597
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 44g
- Saturated Fat: 27g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 143mg