Velvety Artichoke Soup

Photo by Quentin Bacon, food styling by Suzanne Lenzer, and prop styling by Maeve Sheridan

This divinely creamy artichoke soup has a familiar, comforting quality to it, but its extraordinary flavor truly sets it apart. The combination of artichoke hearts, a dash of sherry, and aged Manchego cheese gives it a savory Spanish flair. And it gets its thick creaminess not from cups of cream, as you would usually find in a soup like this, but as a result of pureeing the artichokes with milk and a little potato.

Ingredients

3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion
2 cloves garlic
1 medium white potato (about 5 ounces)
1/4 cup dry sherry or dry white wine
Two 9-ounce packages frozen artichoke hearts
3/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
2 ounces aged Manchego cheese or Parmesan cheese (1/4 cup grated)
1 cup 2% milk

Directions

Bring the broth to a boil in a medium (3-quart) covered saucepan over high heat.

While the broth is heating, heat the oil in a large (4-quart) saucepan over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, chop the onion.

Add the onion to the saucepan and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. While the onion is cooking, mince the garlic and peel and dice the potato into 1/2-inch dice. Add the garlic to the saucepan and cook for 1 minute.

Stir in the sherry or wine, then add the potatoes, artichokes, salt, pepper and hot broth to the pot. Cover and return to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat to medium and simmer until the potatoes have softened, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, finely grate the cheese.

Remove the soup from the heat, stir in the milk, then puree in 3 batches in a blender, transferring the puree to the saucepan that held the broth. (Alternatively, use an immersion blender.) Heat the puree over medium heat until hot but not boiling. Add the cheese and stir until melted, 30 seconds. Season with additional salt, if desired.

Makes 4 servings

Serving size: 2 cups

Per serving: Calories 320; Total Fat 18g (Sat Fat 4.5g, Mono Fat 9.5g, Poly Fat 1.5g); Protein 15g; Carb 27g; Fiber 9g; Cholesterol 15mg; Sodium 830mg.

Excellent Source of: Calcium, Fiber, Phosphorus, Protein, Vitamin C

Good Source of: Niacin, Potassium, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12