Loaded Potato Soup

When I came across this recipe for loaded potato soup last week, I couldn't resist adapting it to our dairy/soy free diet.  I decided to go ahead and make it tonight and I was not disappointed.

Ingredients:

• 12oz bacon, chopped
• 1 onion, diced
• 8 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 3 c. chicken stock
• 3 tbsp. Earth Balance dairy/soy free butter
• 3 tbsp. flour
• 1 1/2 c. So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk Beverage
• 6 green onions, sliced
• 3/4 c. steamed broccoli, chopped (optional)
• Freshly ground black pepper

To make:

• Fry bacon in dutch oven or other large pot (but really, everyone needs a cast iron dutch oven - mine is awesome!)
• When crisp, remove from pot and drain, leaving bacon grease in the pot
• Saute diced onion in bacon grease until translucent
• Add potatoes and chicken stock; simmer until potatoes are tender (about 10-12 minutes for the medium size pieces I cut)
• Remove about 1 c. of potatoes from pot and mash, set aside
• While the potatoes are simmering, melt butter in a small sauce pan
• Whisk flour into melted butter and cook for two minutes
• Whisk in milk, bring to a boil, then simmer until thickened
• Slowly stir milk mixture into the pot, bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer
• Add mashed potatoes, broccoli, most of the bacon, and most of the green onions to the pot, reserving some bacon and green onions for garnish
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Let simmer for about five minutes

Serve garnished with bacon and green onions.  Add some nice, freshly baked crusty bread for a hearty meal.

Being unable to eat dairy is difficult, because I love cheese (as if you couldn't tell from my previous post).  But honestly, I didn't miss the cheese in this at all.  And there was no coconut flavor from the coconut milk.  It was just a delicious, creamy potato soup.