Creamy Potato and Leek Soup

Puréed tofu provides this soup with its creamy background. I like to serve this with crisp whole-wheat toast, either to eat along-side or break into the bowl.

1 tablespoon canola oil
6 cups thinly sliced leek (about 3 large)
8 ounces peeled Yukon gold or red potato, quartered and thinly sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 cup chopped fresh parsley, divided
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 bay leaf
4 cups water
1 cup reduced-fat firm tofu (about 6 ounces)
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add leek, and sauté 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; add potato, 1/2 cup parsley, thyme, salt, and bay leaf. Cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add water, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes. Discard bay leaf.

Combine 2 cups potato mixture and tofu in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Return the puréed potato mixture to pan. Stir in 1/2 cup parsley and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Yield:  6 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

CALORIES 130 (21% from fat); FAT 3g (sat 0.3g,mono 1.5g,poly 1.1g); PROTEIN 4.8g; CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg; CALCIUM 91mg; SODIUM 350mg; FIBER 2.3g; IRON 3.3mg; CARBOHYDRATE 22.6g

Cooking Light, MAY 2000