Vegetable Potage with Comté Crisps
- Yield 4 to 6 servings
Comé crisps are the perfect accompaniment to a steaming bowl of vegetable potage, or thick soup.
Comté Cheese Association / Nickie Sizemore
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing crisps
- 2 medium onions, diced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided, plus additional for seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus additional for seasoning
- 2 large garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
- 1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes (2 medium), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 sprigs thyme
- 1 lemon wedge
- 1/2 baguette, cut on the diagonal into 1/2-inch slices
- 1 cup packed shredded Comté (2.5-ounces)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- In a large saucepan, heat 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots and celery, along with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add the sweet potatoes, bay leaves, thyme sprigs and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, along with 5 cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook, partially covered, 10 to15 minutes, or until sweet potatoes and vegetables are tender.
- Remove the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Using a blender or hand blender, puree the soup until smooth. Season with salt, pepper and a few drops of lemon juice to taste.
- In the meantime, make the Comté Crisps. Line the baguette slices on the prepared baking sheet and brush them lightly on both sides with olive oil. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Bake 4 to 6 minutes, or until lightly crisp on top. Turn the bread over and cook another 3 to 5 minutes, or until crisp on the other side. Mound the Comté evenly over each crisp. Bake 1 to 2 minutes, or until the cheese is just melted. Serve warm or at room temperature with the soup.
Recipe courtesy of Comté Cheese Association, Nickie Sizemore
