NEW YORK —
This soup will help put a little meat on your bones. We wanted to know what would happen if we replicated the awesomeness that is cheese fondue, but as a soup. This is what we got.
We topped our soup with crumbled pretzels because we like the contrast between the rich and creamy soup and the salty, crunchy pretzels. But croutons — especially homemade and just lightly crunchy — also would be a delicious way to top this soup. Crushed corn tortilla chips would be great, too.
PRETZEL CHEDDAR SOUP
Start to finish: 45 minutes
Servings: 6
4 ounces bacon, diced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 medium leek, white part only, diced
2 medium carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
12-ounce bottle ale
Pinch of cayenne
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup milk
1 pound very sharp cheddar, grated
Salt and ground black pepper
1 cup broken pretzels
In a large deep pot, such as a Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy and browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel, leaving the drippings in the pot.
Add the onion, leek, carrots and celery to the pot. Increase heat to medium-high and saute the vegetables until browned, about 10 minutes. Add the flour and stir to coat the vegetables. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, ale and cayenne. Stir continuously while returning to a simmer.
Add the chicken broth and milk and mix well. Return to a simmer, then cover and lower the heat to medium. Cook until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
Working in batches, transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Return the soup to the pot over low heat, then stir in the cheese, a little at a time. Do not allow the soup to boil. Season with salt and black pepper. Ladle into crocks or bowls and serve topped with broken pretzels.
Nutrition information per serving: 500 calories; 300 calories from fat (60 percent of total calories); 34 g fat (17 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 95 mg cholesterol; 24 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 6 g sugar; 25 g protein; 940 mg sodium.
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