(Photo by Carlos Sarmiento)
The one dish that I tend not to eat much of, let alone cook it, is soup and yet when I do crave soup, I always want something that is creamy, flavorful and different.
Here's my take on potato-leek soup, Italian style. The pancetta garnish at the end gives it a delightful texture and taste, which also beautifully balanced out the acidity of the wine pairing. The wine itself, is a rare and lovely Sauvignon Blanc from Italy's Umbrian region.
The end result, a great (and simple to make) meal and a memorable wine for those cold and rainy days.
Let‘s get cooking!
Menu: Potato-Leek soup with pancetta.
Wine pairing: 2022 Castello di Titignano Tenuta di Salviano Sauvignon Blanc IGT (Umbria, Italy)
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds of golden potatoes, diced
2 large leeks, finely chopped
1 medium shallot, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/ cup of pancetta
Extra Virgin olive oil
Sea salt & cracked pepper
1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon of Calabrian roasted chili pepper spread
4 cups vegetable broth
Directions
Pancetta:
In frying pan, cook pancetta on medium heat until golden brown. Drain excess oil from cooked pancetta on plate lined with paper towel and set aside to be used as garnish.
Soup:
Clean and cut the leeks.
In a large pot, heat up 2-3 tablespoons of extra Virgin olive oil on medium heat. Sautée garlic, shallots and leeks for 2-3 minutes.
Add the broth, diced potatoes, and a teaspoon of salt and a dash of cracked pepper to the pot.
Use an immersion blender or blender to blend until smooth. Add fresh parsley and blend again.
Serve it up!
On each individual bowl, pour a generous serving of soup and garnish with pancetta. Optional additional garnish, some extra freshly chopped parsley.
Buon apetito! Enjoy!
(Photo by Carlos Sarmiento)
(Photo by Carlos Sarmiento)
(Photo by Carlos Sarmiento)
About the wine...
2022 Castello di Titignano Tenuta di Salviano Sauvignon Blanc IGT (Umbria, Italy)
Sauvignon blanc has been grown and produced by the Incisa della Rocchetta family for many years. Because of the good quality of the grape and years of successful results of other blends, Giovanni and Tara Incisa decided for the first time in the 2022 harvest to produce this new single-varietal Sauvignon Blanc.
These grapes come from the Castello di Titignano, one of the estates inside of the Tenuta di Salviano property, with a terrific dominant position at an altitude about 600 meters above the sea level, with a most welcoming climate excursion.
(Photo by Carlos Sarmiento)
(Photo by Carlos Sarmiento)
Tasting notes: Intense and persistent smell with notes of tomato leaf and delicate scents of tropical fruit; minerally, fresh and well balanced in the mouth with long lasting taste.
Grapes:
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Food pairing: Excellent as an aperitif by the glass or matched to seafood, first courses, appetizers with charcuterie and fresh cheeses.
For more information, visit:
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Special thanks to my friends at Kobrand Wine and Spirits for this outstanding wine pairing collaboration.
(Photo by Ernesto Scarponi)