New years resolution

I know it is very corny, but my one major new years resolution this year is to cook at least one new recipe every month. I know it’s not much of a goal, but I thought it would be best to start with something I could actually live up to and actually have the time to write the blog that should ideally go with it. Inspired by my new goal and the winter weather, I started this new soup recipe, which can easily be a nice, quick dinner on a busy night, but also a warm lunch on a cold day.

Fennel Soup

2 bulbs of fennel
1.5 l chicken stock
1 onion, diced
1 glove of garlic, crushed
1 medium carrot
Salt and pepper
60 gr flour
50 gr butter

Clean and dice the onion and carrot, and chop the fennel in small strips. Put the fronds of the fennel aside and save as finishing for the soup. Heat the butter and sauté the vegetables for 3 minutes. Add the flour and stir gently with a wooden spoon to make a roux. Let the roux cool slightly before adding the warm stock. Add the stock bit by bit, stirring it well to make sure it is taken up by the flour and butter mixture. After the stock has been added, let the soup simmer until the vegetables have softened. The soup is now ready to go in the blender. Make sure not to put too much in at a time and blend with the small top off, put a cloth or tea towel over it to close the opening. Flavour the soup to taste with salt and pepper. Reheat the soup before serving. The recipe this is inspired on called for 2 dl cream, but we liked it fine just like this.

If you like a bit of crunch and freshness in your soup, I can recommend this topping:

Apple Topping

1 apple
¼ red onion
2 tsp lime juice
2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp grainy mustard
A small bunch of mint
Fennel fronds, left over

Finely dice the apple, unpeeled. Clean the onion and chop it finely. Mix the apple and the onion, the chopped mint and fennel fronds. Make a small dressing mixing the lime juice, olive oil, and the mustard. Coat the apple and the onion with the dressing and add the heated soup for a nice crunchy effect.