Cream Of Cucumber Soup (Potage Aux Concombres)

Name: Cream Of Cucumber Soup (Potage Aux Concombres)
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pound cucumbers, about 3; 1/2 cup minced shallots; 3 tablespoon butter; 6 cup light chicken stock, plus extra for thinning; 1 1/2 teaspoon wine vinegar; 3/4 teaspoon dried tarragon; 4 tablespoon farina (cream of wheat) breakfast cereal; salt and white pepper, to taste; 1 cup sour cream; 1-2 cup minced fresh dill, tarragon, or parsley

Julia Child|Aug. 16, 2012 8:35 am EST

4 (9 ratings)

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The only thing to say about this soup is that it is perfectly delicious; it is especially good cold, but then it is also especially good hot.

Servings

4

Ingredients

1 1/2 pound cucumbers, about 3
1/2 cup minced shallots
3 tablespoon butter
6 cup light chicken stock, plus extra for thinning
1 1/2 teaspoon wine vinegar
3/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
4 tablespoon farina (cream of wheat) breakfast cereal
salt and white pepper, to taste
1 cup sour cream
1-2 cup minced fresh dill, tarragon, or parsley

Directions

Peel the cucumbers. Cut 18-24 paper-thin slices and reserve in a bowl for later. Cut the rest of the cucumbers into ½-inch chunks; you will have about 4½ cups.
Cook the shallots slowly in the butter for several minutes until tender but not browned. Add the cucumber chunks, chicken broth, vinegar, and herbs. Bring to a boil, then stir in the farina. Simmer, partially covered, for 20-25 minutes. Purée in a blender and then return the soup to the pan. Thin out with the extra chicken stock if necessary, and season with salt and white pepper to taste.
Just before serving, beat in ½ cup of the sour cream. Ladle the soup into soup bowls and place a dollop of the leftover sour cream on top of each. Float slices of cucumber on top of the cream, and decorate with a sprinkling of herbs.