Soupe des Hortillonnages
From the one star french chef Patrick Asfaux
Cooking time :
Total time :
- 1 green cabbage
- 300 gr of fresh peas (or frozen)
- 250 gr of large ratte potatoes (the Touquet variety for ex.)
- 6 leeks, white part
- 1 large lettuce
- 1 bunch of sorrel or 50grs of preserved sorrel (jar)
- 1 large bunch of chervil
- 120 gr of butter
- salt and freshly ground pepper
- 6 large slices of bread (Poilane style bread)
Progression
Melt 80 gr of butter in a saucepan and then add the cabbage and the chopped leeks. Season and sweat gently, covering the pan for 10 minutes. Add 2 litres of water. When it starts to boil check the seasoning and add the peeled and diced potatoes (cubes must measure approximately 1 cm on each side).
Leave to simmer for 30min. Add the peas and cook for another 10 min.
During this time, melt 40 gr of butter in a small saucepan. Wash the lettuce, the sorrel and the chervil and chop them finely. Next, sweat them in the butter.
Season the vegetables and cover. Leave them to cook for 5 minutes. Add them to the soup and taste.
Serve this soup with large toasted bread slices, cut in half.
Hortillonnages are parcels of land that are gardened and connected by canals. They exist n some parts of France such as the Somme region. Vegetables that come from these gardens are known for their exceptional quality and variety.