Potato-Artichoke Soup

From EatingWell: March/April 2011

This luxurious potato-artichoke soup is simple enough to be served with a salad for dinner, yet turns into an elegant first course when you top it with a slice of garlic-rubbed crostini smeared with olive tapenade.

Makes: 8 servings, about 1 cup each

Active Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Nutrition Profile

View Our Nutrition Guidelines »

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or parsley
3 cups chopped peeled potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 9-ounce package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and chopped
4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth, “no-chicken” broth (see Note) or vegetable broth
2 cups water
1/2 cup half-and-half (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Preparation

Heat butter and oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat until the butter melts. Add onion and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Add garlic and thyme (or parsley); cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 10 seconds.
Stir in potatoes and artichoke hearts. Add broth and water; bring to a lively simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a lively simmer and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
Puree the soup in the pot using an immersion blender or in batches in a blender. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Stir in half-and-half (if using), salt and pepper.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Note: Chicken-flavored broth, a vegetarian broth despite its name, is preferable to vegetable broth in some recipes for its hearty, rich flavor. Sometimes called “no-chicken” broth, it can be found with the soups in the natural-foods section of most supermarkets.

Nutrition

Per serving: 109 calories; 4 g fat ( 1 g sat , 2 g mono ); 4 mg cholesterol; 17 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 4 g protein; 3 g fiber; 453 mg sodium; 427 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Folate & Vitamin C (15% daily value).

Carbohydrate Servings: 1

Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat

More From EatingWell

Healthy Muffin Tin Recipes

Muffin tins are great for making more than just muffins,...

Thanksgiving Potato Recipes

No Thanksgiving dinner table is complete without a bowl of...

Thanksgiving Vegetable Recipes

If you’re looking for new healthy vegetable side dishes to...

Recipes for Frozen Yogurt

When you serve one of these frozen goodies this summer, your...
Thanksgiving Meal Makeover

Save 851 calories with our Thanksgiving makeover. With a few...

Healthy Quesadilla Recipes

Quesadillas are the perfect family-friendly weeknight meal...

Healthy Turkey Burger Recipes

Making a burger with ground turkey is the first step for a...

Quick Dinner Recipes

At the end of a busy day, ordering take out for dinner might...
Recipes From the May/June 2013 Issue of EatingWell

Get new recipe inspiration from EatingWell's best recipes...

Tofu Four Ways

According to a 2005 study by the U.S. Soybean Board, 30...

Tilapia Recipes, Mahi-Mahi Recipes and Cod Recipes

The delicate white meat and full flavor found in mahi-mahi,...

Top 50 Diet Recipes

From dinner to dessert, you can feel good about eating our...
Top 50 Diet Recipes for Fall

With the changing weather and back-to-school season comes a...

Top 50 Healthy Recipes for Winter

From chili recipes and stew recipes to creamy chicken recipes...

Top 50 Healthy Recipes of 2012

Ring in the new year with EatingWell’s best healthy recipes!...

Top 50 Recipes for Fall

When the weather turns cooler, creamy casseroles, baked...