Receta Recipe: Cheeseburger Soup
Cheeseburger soup? What? Sounds strange. I thought so too, but I made Food and Wine Magazine's version last night and it was pretty tasty. The pickles really make the dish. Give it a try yourself.
- Adapted from Food and Wine Magazine
- 2 hamburger buns, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (I used brioche bagels)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons melted
- Kosher salt
- Pepper
- 3 slices of thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 pound ground sirloin
- 2 large yellow onions, finely chopped
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste (I used tomato sauce)
- 2 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (I used Yukon golds)
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 4 cups whole milk
- 3 cups coarsely shredded sharp cheddar cheese (10 ounces), plus more for garnish
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, quartered (I used grape)
- Minced dill pickles and sliced scallions, for garnish
Preheat the oven to 350°. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the bread cubes with the 2 tablespoons of melted butter and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper. Spread in a single layer and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until golden brown, rotating the sheet from front to back halfway through. Transfer the croutons to a wire rack.
Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook the bacon over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crisp, about 14 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to paper towels. Stir the ground sirloin into the pan, season with a pinch each of salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat, breaking up the meat, until browned, about 5 minutes. Using the slotted spoon, transfer the meat to a bowl. Wipe out the saucepan.
Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the saucepan over moderate heat. When the butter stops foaming, add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic and 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir until well coated, 1 minute. Add the tomato paste, meat, potatoes, chicken broth and milk and bring to a boil over moderately high heat. Reduce the heat to moderately low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender and the soup is slightly thickened, about 30 minutes.
Stir the 3 cups of cheese into the soup and cook until melted, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup of the tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes, until softened and hot. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with the croutons, bacon, cheese, pickles, scallions and the remaining 1/2 cup of tomatoes. Serve.