Cream of Celery Soup

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This quick and easy cream of celery soup is full of flavor, thanks to lemon, tarragon and fennel, which complement the vegetal flavor of the celery. A bit of cream makes it rich but not too heavy. This healthy soup would be a wonderful starter for a special meal--it's particularly nice with salmon.

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Prep Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
8
Yield:
6 cups

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch celery (1 1/4 pounds)

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

  • 2 cups chopped yellow onions

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

  • 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest

  • ¾ teaspoon ground fennel seed

  • 4 cups no-salt-added chicken broth

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach

  • 1 ½ tablespoons fresh tarragon leaves

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • ½ cup heavy cream

  • teaspoon ground white pepper

Directions

  1. Remove and reserve leaves from celery (about 1/2 cup); set aside. Chop celery stalks to equal 4 cups. (Reserve any remaining stalks for another use.)

  2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the chopped celery stalks, onions, thyme and garlic; cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add lemon zest and ground fennel; cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 seconds. Add broth and salt; bring the mixture to a boil. Boil, stirring occasionally, until the celery is soft, 5 to 6 minutes.

  3. Add spinach, tarragon and lemon juice to the celery mixture; cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 1 minute. Remove from heat.

  4. Working in batches, if needed, transfer the soup to a blender. Secure the lid on the blender, and remove the center piece to allow steam to escape. Place a clean towel over the opening. Process on low speed, gradually increasing to high, until the mixture is smooth, about 45 seconds. (Alternatively, process soup in the pot using an immersion blender until smooth, about 2 minutes; use caution when blending hot liquids.) Stir in cream and white pepper.

  5. Ladle the soup evenly into 8 bowls; drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and sprinkle with the reserved celery leaves.

Originally appeared: Eatingwell.com, September 2019

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

141 Calories
11g Fat
8g Carbs
3g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size 3/4 cup
Calories 141
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 3g 6%
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 4g 21%
Cholesterol 17mg 6%
Vitamin A 1265IU 25%
Vitamin C 9mg 10%
Folate 49mcg 12%
Sodium 277mg 12%
Calcium 61mg 5%
Iron 1mg 3%
Magnesium 20mg 5%
Potassium 384mg 8%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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