SO Sweet Potato and Tasso Soup

Sweet Potato and Tasso Soup

Ingredients

¼   cup butter

1   cup chopped onion

½   cup chopped celery

½   cup chopped green bell pepper

⅓   cup all-purpose flour

8   cups chicken broth

4½   cups peeled and chopped sweet potato

½   pound tasso ham, cut into ½-inch cubes

⅛   teaspoon ground cinnamon

⅛   teaspoon ground nutmeg

½   cup chopped parsley, plus more for garnish

1   cup heavy whipping cream

Salt

Ground black pepper

Instructions

1. In a large Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, and bell pepper, and cook until softened, about 7 minutes. Add flour, and cook 1 minute more, stirring constantly. Stir in chicken broth and sweet potato. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until sweet potato is tender, about 20 minutes.

2. In the container of a blender, add sweet potato mixture in batches. Remove center part of blender lid to allow steam to escape; secure lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in lid to avoid spills. Process until soup is smooth; return to Dutch oven.

3. Add tasso, cinnamon, nutmeg, and parsley. Bring soup to a simmer, and cook until thickened, about 20 minutes. Stir in cream, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with additional parsley, if desired.

Credits:  Chef Jeremy Langlois

Servings:  10-12 appetizer servings