# Football Buffet Star: Potato and Bacon Soup
## Introduction
There’s something inexplicably heart warming about a bowl of homemade soup. Add bacon and potatoes to the equation and you’ve got a heart warming, comforting, winter recipe that will surely please everyone. If the promise of sizzling bacon and golden potatoes alone doesn’t convince you, let’s take a journey into the process of making our potato and bacon soup.
## Why Make this Recipe
Everyone loves a bowl of hot, creamy soup and this recipe elevates it with simple, available yet flavorful ingredients – bacon, potatoes and cheese. It’s an easy recipe, requiring just about 45 minutes from start to finish and it is perfect as a main dish for those busy weeknight dinners. Throw in some bread on the side and dinner is served!
## How to Make Potato and Bacon Soup
### Ingredients
– 6 slices of bacon, chopped
– 1 medium onion, chopped
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
– 4 cups chicken broth
– 1 cup heavy cream
– Salt and pepper to taste
– 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)
– Chopped chives for garnish
### Directions
1. In a large pot over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove bacon and set aside.
2. In the remaining bacon fat, sauté the chopped onion until it’s translucent. Add in the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
3. Add the diced potatoes and chicken broth to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
4. Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until it’s smooth. You can also blend in batches using a conventional blender.
5. Stir in the heavy cream and add salt and pepper according to your taste. If necessary, reheat the soup gently.
6. Pour the soup into bowls and top with the cooked bacon, Cheddar cheese and chopped chives.
## How to Serve Potato and Bacon Soup
Serve this creamy potato and bacon soup hot, in deep soup bowls. Garnish it with crispy bacon, a sprinkle of cheddar and some fresh chives. You could also add some bread or croutons on the side for a complete meal.
## How to Store Potato and Bacon Soup
Store the leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should last for three to four days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave.
## Tips to Make Potato and Bacon Soup
– Make sure you cook the bacon in the very beginning. This enhances the overall flavour of the soup.
– If you don’t have an immersion blender, a regular stand blender will do the job too, just make sure you blend in small batches.
– For a vegetarian version, you can leave out the bacon and add more vegetables of your choice.
## Variations
For a lighter version, you can use turkey bacon instead of regular bacon. Additionally, you can replace the cream with milk or a non-dairy milk for a vegan version.
## FAQs
**Can I add other vegetables in the soup?**
Absolutely! You can add corn, bell peppers or celery for a variation.
**Can this soup be made vegan?**
Yes, by replacing the chicken broth with vegetable broth and the cream with your choice of non-dairy milk.
**How long can this soup be stored?**
This soup can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days and reheated before serving.