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Chestnut Soup with Fennel and Ricotta

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Chestnut Soup with Fennel and Ricotta

A modern version of a traditional soup prepared in the farmhouses of Upper Provence. The classic combination of Ricotta with sweet chestnuts and fennel is smoothed and softened by the addition of cream. For a richer broth, you can, if you wish, replace the water with chicken stock. However, the water-based version allows a better appreciation of the delicate flavour of the chestnuts.

Preparation time:
10 minutes
Cooking time:
40 minutes
Total time:
50 minutes 50 minutes
Serves:
 4

Ingredients

  • 2 x 200g packs cooked and peeled chestnuts
  • 1 fennel bulb, trimmed and diced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ tsp ground allspice
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 284ml carton double cream
  • To finish
  • 100g fresh Ricotta
  • Extra virgin olive oil

Method

  1. Put the chestnuts in a roomy pan with 500ml water. Add the diced fennel, the bay leaf, allspice and 1 tsp salt. Bring to the boil, turn down the heat and simmer for 30-35 minutes, or until the fennel is perfectly soft.
  2. Liquidise or mash half the soup with the cream and a grinding of pepper. Return it to the pan, with the unliquidised soup, and gently bring back to just below the boil. Remove the bay leaf.
  3. Ladle into soup bowls, drop in a spoonful of Ricotta and finish with a drizzle of olive oil.

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This recipe was first published on Waitrose.com in November 2003