Chestnut Soup
Makes 10 cups
This recipe, slightly adapted, comes from Nigella Christmas (Harper Collins Canada, 2008) and I chose it only because I loved the idea of chestnuts with gewürztraminer. Some wine snobs will scoff at the idea of pairing soups with wine, but I love the way a good wine can boost a soup’s flavour. This velvety potage not only has a rich flavour, but when paired with a sweeter gewürztraminer, it goes from just plain delicious to downright Christmassy from the first slurp to the last. 1 clove garlic, peeled and sliced into four 1/2 cup good quality olive oil 1 stick celery 2 small carrots 1 small onion 1/2 leek 250g red lentils 6 cups vegetable or chicken stock 250g vacuum-packed cooked chestnuts (or a 240g tin of Vacuum-packed chestnuts, look for Clement Faugier brand) 1/4 cup Sherry or Madeira About 5 slices of bacon, fried and chopped into bits 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley extra garlic oil for drizzling
Make the garlic oil: Heat the olive oil in a small pot until just hot but not smoking, add the garlic. It should sizzle. Remove immediately from heat and let cool to room temperature.
Make the soup: Finely chop the onion, leek, carrot and celery. Heat about 3 tablespoons of the garlic oil in a pan, add the chopped vegetables and let sweat and soften for about 10 minutes on medium-low heat. Stir in the lentils, then pour in the stock. Bring to the boil and simmer until lentils are very soft (about 30 minutes).
Add the chestnuts, stir, and simmer for a few more minutes. Using a blender, liquidize in batches until smooth.
When ready to serve, reheat the soup and stir in the sherry or Madeira. Ladle into pre-warmed bowls and sprinkle each with bacon bits and parsley. Drizzle over a bit of garlic oil and serve immediately. Suggested pairings:
With chestnuts, the soup and the guinea hen:
Gewürztraminer 2010, Léon Beyer, Alsace, France ($24.35 SAQ #978577); gewürztraminer 2008, Bollenberg G.C., Lucien Albrecht, Alsace, France ($23.70, SAQ #710459); gewürztraminer 2010, Pacific Rim, Colombia Valley, U.S. ($18.30 SAQ #11334911); gewürztraminer 2011, Aloïs Lageder, Sudtirol, Haut Adige, Italy ($24.10, SAQ #10780400).
For those who want to splurge: gewürztraminer Réserve 2010, Albert Boxler, Alsace, France ($39, SAQ #11777739); gewürztraminer 2008 Osterberg G.C., Kientzler, Alsace, France ($31.00, SAQ #11661463) With Munster:
For those who prefer a less perfumed wine: gewürztraminer 2011, Aloïs Lageder, Sudtirol, Haut Adige, Italy ($24.10, SAQ #10780400).
And for those who prefer a more aromatic experience: gewürztraminer 2004, Vendanges Tardives, Léon Beyer, Alsace, France ($49.25, SAQ #10481629); gewürztraminer 2009 Rosenberg G.C., Domaine Barmès Buecher, Alsace, France ($29.45, SAQ #11655774).