Comforting Vegan Potato Leek Soup

Bowl of vegan potato leek soup topped with olive oil and chives

Comforting Vegan Potato Leek Soup

This Vegan Potato Leek Soup blends buttery leeks, creamy potatoes, and rich coconut milk together for the ultimate rainy day comfort food. Gluten-Free and Grain-Free, Oil-Free Option.

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Diet Vegan

Method Stovetop

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 35

Total Time 45

Servings people

Calories 248kcal

Author Caitlin Shoemaker

Ingredients

3-4 leeks see instructions for cleaning
2 tablespoons olive oil or vegan butter
2 stalks of celery chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes (no need to peel)
4 cups imitation “chicken” broth or sub vegetable broth
1 cup water
1 13.5- ounce can full-fat coconut milk (see notes for substitutions)
Serving suggestions: chives or green onions croutons, chopped parsley, etc.

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Prep the Leeks: Cut the root ends and dark green parts off of the leeks, leaving only the tender white and light green parts. Cut each leek in half lengthwise, then run under water until clean, making sure to check the outer few layers of the leek for hidden dirt. Chop into ¼” pieces. Prepare the remaining ingredients, if you haven’t already
Sauté Aromatics: Melt the butter in a dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped leeks along with a pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté for 6 to 8 minutes, until the leeks are translucent and their volume has reduced by half. Add the celery, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, and additional salt and pepper (I used ½ teaspoon of each) to the pot and sauté for an additional 2 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant.
Simmer: Add the potatoes, broth, coconut milk, and water to the pot and stir well. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to medium and maintain a simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
Blend: Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth, or carefully transfer the soup to a blender with a venting lid and blend until smooth. I prefer my soup to be smooth, but you can leave a portion of it unblended for a chunkier texture, if you wish. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste if necessary. If the soup is too thick for your liking, thin it out with more water or broth.
Serve: Serve warm, topped with chopped chives, parsley, celery leaves, or croutons. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or can be stored in the freezer in jars or airtight containers for up to 2 months.

Notes

Coconut Milk: I don't find that there is a big coconut taste in this recipe after simmering. That being said, you can also use equal parts full-fat oat milk, or an unsweetened vegan creamer. You can also make your own homemade cashew cream by blending 3/4 cup soaked cashews with 1 cup water.
Make it Smoky: if you want to add an imitation “bacon” flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of liquid smoke along with the coconut milk and broth in step 3!
Potatoes: I recommend using yukon gold potatoes for this because of their waxy texture, which will make the soup more thick and creamy. Red potatoes would be an okay substitute, but I don’t recommend using Russet Potatoes as they are a bit too starchy and dry.

Nutrition