This Easy Leek & Potato Soup with Celeriac is quick & easy to make, creamy and super comforting yet not heavy at all. Delicious twist on an old classic!
Leek & potato soup must be one of the most popular soups out there. It is also one of the easiest and most comforting soups to prepare and relies on the most humble of vegetables.
I love soup for lunch throughout the year but once the weather gets that bit colder, that's when this particular recipe comes out. I must say I make it a lot!
As much as I love simple leek & potato, very often I tend to add a little something extra to simply increase my veggie quota. This version including humble celeriac root is now by far my favourite one. I urge you to try it, unless celeriac is not your thing then simply leave it out.
Few simple tips when making Easy Leek & Potato Soup with Celeriac
Don't be to hung up on the quantity of veg. I suggested 2 medium leeks and potatoes, no need to use scales. If your veg is slightly larger and you might need a bit more liquid, go for it. Add splash more of stock/water, adjust seasoning and I'm sure your soup will be lovely. Soup making is not baking (pardon unintentional rhyme here), you don't need to be super precise to get wonderful results. I encourage you to go for it and make this simple leek & potato soup (with or without celeriac) your own.
I've suggested the use of onion in my recipe although I must say I don't always include it as leeks carry very similar flavour. Feel free to use it or leave it.
How to prepare leeks?
Leeks can be a bit of a pain due to all the grit that hides in between all the layers. The best way to sort them out is to get rid of very top, dark green, woody part. Make sure you leave a bit of green though (closer to white part). Once you’ve done that, cut your leeks in half (lengthwise) and gently run them under cold tap gently separating the layers and getting rid of all the grit. Make sure the leek stays intact though (it will be easier to slice). Once clean, go ahead and slice each half nice and thin.
Storing and serving suggestions
I like to serve this lovely soup very simply with sprinkle of chopped chives and a generous slice of toasted and buttered sourdough or my Irish Soda Bread or this delicious Easy Wholemeal Bread. Sometimes if I feel the need to indulge I might add an extra swirl of cream or creme fraiche on top of my portion or perhaps some pan fried and chopped bacon. Also nice with homemade croutons or roasted pumpkin seeds sprinkled on top. My Vegetarian Sausage Rolls and new favourite Vegan Cheese Scones also make delicious accompaniment!
Once cooked, cool the soup promptly (especially if it contains creme fraiche or cream) and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. This soup also freezes brilliantly so make a large batch and freeze your leftovers for up to 3 months.
Can this soup be adapted for vegan diet?
Of course! This soup as per recipe below is veggie but not vegan, however, it can be easily adapted. Simply substitute dairy creme fraiche or double cream with a good splash of plant based milk and butter for vegetable oil of your choice. I like to use cold pressed rapeseed oil*.
How to make Easy Leek & Potato Soup with Celeriac
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Prepare your potatoes and celeriac (if using) by peeling them and cutting into rough chunks. Do the same with onions (if using).
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Prepare the leeks by discarding the very top, dark green part., halving and cleaning them thoroughly, getting rid of all the grit. Slice thinly.
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Melt butter in a large pan. Add prepared leeks and onion (if using) and cook until softened but not coloured (about 5 min). Make sure you keep and eye on it stirring it from time to time to prevent it from burning.
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Add potatoes and celeriac (if using) and continue cooking for another 2-3 min.
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Add stock, bit of salt and pepper and cover.
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Simmer until all the veg, especially celeriac (which takes the longest) is tender (approximately 20-25min).
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Take the soup off the heat and puree to desired consistency using hand/immersion blender. I like it really smooth and silky but you may want some texture to it.
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Add creme fraiche, adjust seasoning and quickly blend again.
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Serve sprinkled with chopped chives and some croutons.
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Enjoy!
Easy Leek & Potato Soup with Celeriac
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 medium leeks cleaned and sliced
- 1 small onion (optional) peeled and roughly chopped
- 2 medium potatoes peeled and cut into small chunks
- 0.5 small celeriac root (optional) peeled and cut into small chunks
- small knob of unsalted butter
- 1.2 ltr vegetable stock cube is fine
- 1 tablespoon (heaped) creme fraiche or double cream see notes
- salt & pepper to taste
- chives and croutons to serve
Instructions
- Start with preparing your veg as indicated above.
- Discard the very top of the leeks (dark green part). Halve and clean your leeks thoroughly, getting rid of all the grit. Slice thinly.
- Melt butter in a large pan. Add prepared leeks and onions (if using) and cook until softened but not coloured (about 5 min). Make sure you keep and eye on it stirring it from time to time to prevent it from burning.
- Add potatoes and celeriac (if using) and continue cooking for another 2-3 min.
- Add stock, bit of salt and pepper and cover.
- Simmer until all the veg, especially celeriac (which takes the longest) is tender (approximately 20-25min).
- Take the soup off the heat and puree to desired consistency using hand/immersion blender. I like it really smooth and silky but you may want some texture to it.
- Add creme fraiche, adjust seasoning and quickly blend again.
- Serve sprinkled with chopped chives and some croutons.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Nutritional information is approximate and should be treated as a guideline only.
- Feel free to add the onion to your soup. I add it occasionally although as leeks carry similar flavour I sometimes simply leave it out.
- You can substitute creme fraiche with double cream or splash of dairy or plant based milk of your choice.
- Store your soup in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to three months.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published on 13 April 2017 and republished in September 2019 with some helpful info, new photos and recipe card.
Some more seasonal soup inspiration:
Roasted Celeriac & Sweet Potato Soup
Butternut Squash & Chestnut Soup
Roasted Tomato & Fennel Soup Recipe
Instant Pot Ginger Spiced Beetroot Soup
Instant Pot Creamy Cauliflower Cheese Soup
Jerusalem Artichoke & Carrot Soup
Veg Box Spinach & Mushroom Soup
If you are soup lover and maker and not vegetarian you might want to make your own chicken stock too. Feel free to check out my guide on How To Make Chicken Stock in Instant Pot (with instructions for hob/stovetop users too).
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Kym says
Look forward to making this soup today for my family. Just wondering if adding garlic would be a good idea or not?
joskitchenlarder says
Hi Kym, Of course you can add garlic. 🙂 I would add a clove or two thinly sliced together with your onion and leek. I hope you enjoy the soup! 🙂
Helen - Cooking with my kids says
I've not made my first batch of soup yet this autumn but this has prompted me. I wanted to try some new ones this year and this sounds great.
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Helen 🙂 I've already started on the soups lol, trying to experiment with new flavour combinations but this one is the one I keep coming back to time and time again.
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
This would go down an absolute treat in my house!
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Kat! 🙂 It's a favourite here too! 🙂
Monika Dabrowski says
Great idea to add celeriac to this soup, I can imagine the rich flavour it's created.
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you Monika! 🙂 Celeriac does complement this soup really nicely! 🙂
Lizet Bowen says
I love potato soup, and I can soup every day too. I have never tried leek before. I want to give it a try this fall.
Thanks for sharing at #CookBlogShare!
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Lizet! 🙂 Potato based soups are just so comforting aren't they? Leeks are fantastic, milder tasting cousins of onions and they're so versatile too.
Jacqui Bellefontaine says
Looks really tasty. I love the flavour of celeriac, definitely one to try
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Jacqui 🙂 Celeriac is such an underrated veg but I love it and it works really well here.
Donna says
Leek and potato soup is one of my favourite things about autumn! Love the addition of celeriac here. Yummy!
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Donna 🙂 Same here! 🙂
Michelle Rolfe says
Leek and Tattie soup is a firm favourite with my kids in this house. Now matter how big a pan I make they eat it almost everyday till its gone! I do love the addition of celeriac as I always seem to roast part of the head then there's always a small bit left - I'll make sure I add it next time:-) Thanks for sharing with #cookblogshare
Michelle x
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Michelle! 🙂 My kids love it too. They tend to love beige food 😉 not even realising that this one is packed full of leeks and celeriac they are not too keen on. x
Corina Blum says
I love root vegetables soups like this and it's a great idea to add some celeriac as well. It sounds delicious!
joskitchenlarder says
Thanks Corina! 🙂 Celeriac works so well with leek and potato and I always have it when in season so in it goes, so good! 🙂
Monica says
Thanks, Jo. This recipe was simple and delicious! I never realised how much I like celeriac! 😀 With the box of organic veg I was given, this recipe was just what I was looking for.
joskitchenlarder says
Hi Monica! Thanks for stopping by! So pleased to hear that! Love hearing back when somebody has made one of my recipes! Celeriac works really nicely in this soup doesn't it! I could do with a bowl of it just about now! 🙂
Francesca says
This looks delicious! But FYI, your instructions mention celeriac once and never says when to include the leeks. I assume the leeks come first and the potatoes and celeriac second, but it seems like something you may want to amend!
joskitchenlarder says
Hi Francesca! You are absolutely right. First celeriac in the instructions was supposed to be leeks, all amended now! 🙂 I have read this recipe so many times and have never tweaked so thanks for pointing it out! Glad you like the recipe 🙂
Katie Bryson says
Brrrrrr it's still freezing here so I really fancy tucking into a bowl of your delicious sounding soup!!! Thanks for sharing it with us this month on Simple and in Season! xxx
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you Katie! Spring seems to be teasing us a bit at the moment and soup is definitely a ticket to comfort when weather fails. 🙂 Happy to take part! xxx
Jenny Paulin says
I only tried celeriac for the first time earlier this year, and it was quite nice. I can imagine that it adds a lovely depth of flavour to the classic leek and potato combo. Your soup looks so inviting x
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you Jenny 🙂 x
choclette says
Love leek and potato soup and I'm pretty sure I'd like your celeriac addition. I haven't had celeriac in far too long, but I do like it. I find it really hard to post soup recipes as most of my soups are an ad hoc melange of whatever I happen to have to hand.
joskitchenlarder says
I know what you mean, making soups doesn't seem as straightforward when you want to blog about it ?
Jacqui Bellefontaine says
I think adding the celeriac is a great idea then again I would as I love celeriac! I do like soups that use up the bits and pieces in the fridge a great way to avoid food waste.
Just to let you know I will be guest hosting the #CookBlogShare linky this week over at Recipes Made Easy and I would love it if you pop over and linky up another recipe.
joskitchenlarder says
Hello Jacqui, I really hate throwing things out hence this soup was enhanced with celeriac which worked beautifully. Thank you so much for the invite to another #CookBlogShare 🙂 I will definitely pop over and link another recipe later this week. Have a great week!
Eb Gargano says
Oooh yum...I love Leek and Potato Soup, but I've never thought to add celeriac to it before (which I also love), I will have to try that next time I make it. It's funny you saying about celeriac having a really distinct taste...I think it does too, but I somehow managed to completely fool my father in law and two children once when I made celeriac mash - they all thought it was regular mashed potatoes!?! Hilarious! Thanks for linking your lovely soup up to #CookBlogShare and Happy Easter!! Eb x
joskitchenlarder says
It is a bit like marmite isn't it? I love it though? Well done tricking the family. Mine don't even knows what goes in their food half the time ? and it seems to work. I disguise it, they eat it and like it. Everyone's happy ? Happy to link up. Have a great Easter!
Corina says
I love leek and potato soups. They are just so creamy before you even add any extra cream and I love the sound of the celeriac in this one. I am definitely a celeriac fan and it must go so well with the leeks and potato. Thank you for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice!
joskitchenlarder says
Thank you so much! Celeriac definitely added another dimension to this soup, a really pleasant one if I say so myself ? Happy to link up again ?