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Spinach & Goat Cheese Bisque

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/spinach_bisque.html

From EatingWell:  September/October 2011

A little fresh goat cheese and a touch of butter are just enough to make this spinach soup silky, creamy and a little nutty—but not enough to overdo it. We use dark green spinach for this soup because of the lovely color it produces, though you could use red-veined spinach and have just as good a flavor in a more Army-inspired khaki color. Recipe by Anna Thomas for EatingWell.

8 servings, about 1 cup each | Active Time: 50 minutes | Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 large yellow onions, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided, plus more to taste
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 cups water, divided
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 2 teaspoons fresh
• 1 large Yukon Gold potato, peeled and diced
• 2 tablespoons cream sherry or Marsala
• 4 cups vegetable broth, store-bought or homemade
• 24 cups gently packed spinach (about 1 1/4 pounds), any tough stems trimmed
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup crumbled fresh goat cheese (2 ounces), plus more for garnish
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or more to taste
• Soup croutons for garnish (see below)

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add onions and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring frequently, until the onions begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, add 2 tablespoons water and thyme and cover. Cook, stirring frequently until the pan cools down, and then occasionally, always covering the pan again, until the onions are greatly reduced and have a deep caramel color, 25 to 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, combine the remaining 2 cups water and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large soup pot or Dutch oven; add potato. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook until very soft, 12 to 15 minutes.
3. When the onions are caramelized, stir sherry (or Marsala) into them; add them to the pot along with broth. Return to a simmer. Stir in spinach, cayenne and nutmeg; cover and cook, stirring once, until the spinach is tender but still bright green, about 5 minutes.
4. Remove from the heat, stir in goat cheese, butter and 1 tablespoon lemon juice; allow the butter and cheese to melt. Puree the soup in the pot with an immersion blender until perfectly smooth or in a regular blender in batches (return it to the pot). Taste and add more salt and/or lemon juice, if desired. Serve garnished with a large soup crouton and crumbled goat cheese, if desired.

Nutrition

Per serving : 147 Calories; 7 g Fat; 3 g Sat; 3 g Mono; 11 mg Cholesterol; 17 g Carbohydrates; 5 g Protein; 4 g Fiber; 447 mg Sodium; 514 mg Potassium

1 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 fat

Tips & Notes

• Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

• To make 8 soup croutons: Slice one-fourth of a whole-grain baguette into 8 slices 1/2 inch thick. Melt 1 tablespoon butter; lightly brush on both sides of each slice. Place the slices on a baking sheet. Bake at 350°F until the edges are crisp and golden brown, 10 to 20 minutes, keeping an eye on them so they don’t burn.