Indulge in a comforting bowl of Jamie Oliver’s Baked Potato Soup, the perfect blend of coziness and flavor to satisfy your cravings. This rich and creamy soup, adorned with crispy bacon crumbles, is the ultimate treat for potato enthusiasts. With just a handful of simple ingredients, it’s a dish that promises to please soup lovers of all kinds.
As the chilly weather sets in, there’s nothing quite like a steaming pot of hearty soup to warm you up from the inside out. Jamie Oliver’s recipe taps into the essence of a classic baked potato experience, delivering a dish that is as delightful to eat as it is to smell. The allure of a single pot bubbling away on the stove, topped with a garnish that pleases the crowds, is undeniable. It’s the kind of dish that seems tailor-made for those cold, blustery days when all you want is a taste of home.
To begin crafting this soul-warming soup, start by baking the potatoes in the oven at 350°F, or gas mark four for our British friends. While the potatoes are roasting, take to the stove to crisp up some bacon to perfection. For an extra dose of flavor, consider channeling your inner Snoop Dog and pan-frying the bacon for that irresistible crunch. Meanwhile, chop up some onions and sauté them in butter, laying the flavorful foundation for the soup.
Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, chop them into chunks and add them to the onions, creating a hearty base for your soup. Enhance the umami essence of the dish by incorporating a Parmesan rind, either from a fresh wedge or a carefully curated leftover piece. Season with salt and pepper to taste, allowing the flavors to meld together in harmony.
When it comes to the stock, the recipe calls for a two-step approach. Add approximately five cups of stock for simmering the ingredients, reserving an additional cup to adjust the consistency post-blend. Depending on your preference, you may opt to omit the final cup to achieve a thicker, more substantial texture akin to a loaded baked potato.
Once the ingredients have simmered to perfection, it’s time to blend everything together. Utilize a high-powered blender like a Vitamix to achieve a smooth and velvety texture. For an extra burst of flavor, leave the Parmesan rind in the mix to be fully incorporated into the soup—a move that promises to elevate the dish to new heights of deliciousness.
After blending, taste and adjust the seasoning as needed, ensuring that the salt and pepper levels hit the mark. Then comes the fun part—topping off your soup with a medley of bacon, sour cream, and chives, reminiscent of the classic baked potato toppings that we all know and love. A sprinkle of Lancashire cheese, or perhaps some sharp cheddar, can add a final touch of indulgence to the dish.
Feel free to customize your toppings to suit your taste preferences
