One potato, two potato. I'm being a bit silly, I know. Anyhow a heartwarming Irish potato soup recipe is what I have for you today. Actually, this Irish potato soup recipe is not my original. It came from a book (shaped like a potato) my Irish mother in law bought in Ireland a number of years ago. The book contains various potato-based Irish recipes and uses charming quantities. Such as "a knob of butter" which by the way is about 2 tablespoons.
OK, so I just confessed to you that this is not MY recipe. I have another confession to make: I did not cook the soup either. That's right! Who then? My Irish mother in law of course. One Sunday afternoon, last Fall, she showed up at our door with a pot of Irish soup." YUM, and thank you" I said. Every now and then it is so nice not to have to cook dinner.
Although it is simple fare, this Irish potato soup recipe is amazing. It's comfort food, like a food hug! Potatoes as everyone knows are a staple of the Irish diet, and there are countless dishes made with this versatile tuber.
The Great Potato Famine of 1845-1849 forced so many Irish families to emigrate to the United States. This tragic event was the worst famine of the 19th century in Europe. The crop failures were caused by a blight that rotted the leaves and the tubers. It did not help that the Irish had come to rely on the potato as one of their few food sources.
Making this Irish potato soup recipe is very easy.
If you don't own a Dutch oven, you can make this hearty soup recipe in a crock pot. It can be reheated the next day, so it is perfect for lunch at the office. Now, you might be wondering if you can freeze potato soup. Well, technically you can, but I prefer not to since it changes the texture.
There are a couple techniques to make the soup really smooth.
- I personally like to use an immersion blender when the soup is finished.
- If you want to take the soft cooked potatoes out of the soup pot before adding the vegetable stock you can force the potatoes through a sieve or potato ricer.
- Another way is, you can drop the cooked pieces of potato into a blender or food processor with some of the vegetable broth to get that silky smooth texture. All these techniques work well, but be sure to add it all back to the soup pot and let simmer and season it to your liking.
Step to Make Irish Potato Soup
- Gather all your ingredients and have them chopped, diced, measured and ready to go.
- In a Dutch oven on medium heat melt the butter and add the onions. Cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the potatoes then cover and cook for about 10 minutes. Stir the potatoes and onions a few times to prevent browning on the bottom.
- Add the vegetable stock to the pot.
- Season to taste then simmer uncovered on medium heat for 30 minutes. Check a potato chunk after 30 minutes with a fork. If it is soft, then they are done.
- Using and immersion blender
break down all the solids until you have a smooth creamy consistency. - Serve with some chopped bacon and parsley on top.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Can I make this soup in a slow cooker? Sure, it will take a bit longer but you can toss everything in and walk away for several hours if you like. It should take about 1 hour on high to get the potatoes soft then you can blend with an immersion blender until smooth.
- How long can I save this soup? You can store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Can I freeze this soup? Is is best when fresh but yes you can freeze this soup. You must completely cool the soup before freezing. Store in airtight containers for up to four months. For single servings, freeze portions in a muffin tin and pop out the frozen rounds and store in freezer bags.
- What are the best potatoes to use? For creamed or puréed soups mealy potatoes work best like russets and Idaho. Avoid waxy potatoes as those are better in whole chunks for stews, casseroles and gratins as they hold their shape but do not purée very well.
Here are some other Irish inspired recipes to checkout and bookmark for later. If you like stew you will love this hearty Guinness beef stew with tender pieces of potato and carrots. Another interesting dish that I like to make for Saint Patrick's Day is Dublin coddle which is a very unique stew made with Irish bangers (an Irish sausage flavored with peppercorns and thyme_. After dinner I would typically have Irish butter cookies that are a melt in your mouth shortbread you will love. Sláinte!
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Irish Potato Soup Recipe
A bowl of this warm, and delicious soup is just what you need on a cold day. This Irish potato soup recipe only requires a few ingredients. This soup is creamy and comforting. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon and chopped parsley.
Ingredients
- 6 potatoes peeled and diced (Russets work nicely.)
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 onions medium, chopped
- 7 ½ cups vegetable stock
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- 3 slices bacon cooked, crumbled
- 2 Tbsp parsley chopped
Instructions
Melt the butter in a soup pot or Dutch oven on medium heat. Add the onions and stir until translucent, about 5 minutes.
Add the potatoes (diced into 1 inch cubes), stir into the onions. Cover and cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes. Stir the potatoes an onions a few times to cook evenly and to prevent the ones on the bottom from browning.
Add the stock and seasoning to taste.
Simmer for about 30 minutes uncovered on medium heat. Check a potato chunk after 30 minutes with a fork for softness, then it is done.
Using an immersion blender, break down the solids as much as possible.
Serve hot, sprinkled with bacon, and parsley.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Can I make this soup in a slow cooker? Sure, it will take a bit longer but you toss everything in and walk away for several hours if you like. It should take about 1 hour on high to get the potatoes soft then you can blend with an immersion blender until smooth.
- How long can I save this soup? You can store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Can I freeze this soup? Is is best when fresh but yes you can freeze this soup. You must completely cool the soup before freezing. Store in airtight containers for up to four months. For single servings, freeze portions in a muffin tin and pop out the frozen rounds and store in freezer bags.
- What are the best potatoes to use? For creamed or puréed soups mealy potatoes work best like russets and Idaho. Avoid waxy potatoes as those are better in whole chunks for stews, casseroles and gratins as they hold their shape but do not purée very well.
Moses
Waiting for the next confession. LOL. I think I like it when the soup is smooth. I love any potato combination.
Analida
Potatoes are great! Yes, I always like to include a confession in my blog posts if possible. I am thinking that right about now a bowl of Irish potato soup would be lovely. It is so cold outside.
Elaine Benoit
There is nothing wrong with featuring someone else's cooking and recipe. Especially when it looks like this! So delicious and creamy!
Des
Such a belly-warming delicious soup to enjoy on these cold days. It's perfect any time of year when you are craving a delicious soup.
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness
This soup sounds amazing!! I love a good potato soup on a cold winter day.
Aleta
Potato soup is among my favourite creamy soups. I just love the stuff! You are so lucky to have a mother in law that will just drop off a pot of soup... I can't wait to try this at home!
Veena Azmanov
Soup is my all time favorite for Dinner and this Potato Soup is so creamy. Potato is also my family favorite ingredients in any form and this soup looks delicious. Love the addition of Bacon to it.
Analida
You can never go wrong with some crispy bacon sprinkled on top!
Kiki Johnson
Potatoes and bacon - how can this soup not be awesome? It sure looks fab! With St Patrick's Day around the corner, this recipe comes at a perfect time! I'd blend it in my Vitamix - easy peasy!
Analida
This is a quick and easy soup. Most traditional Irish soups are a pureé and delicious!
Marisa Franca
What a sweet MIL you have. And you were able to get some good shots of the soup too. I've never made potato soup. My mamma did as well as my MIL. This recipe looks so good I'm making it for St. Patrick's day. I will be perfect with some good Irish Soda Bread.
Analida
I had the same recipe book that my mother in law had from Ireland and it was so cute and shaped like a potato!
Kathryn
It's been pretty winter-like here the last few days so this soup sounds like the perfect warmer. Would also be great for a St. Patrick's Day party!!
Tammy
Mmm I can always go for a bowl of warm soup! This looks so good! <3
Daniela
Yum I could go for this tonight! Thanks for sharing the recipe :).
Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life
What fantastic timing! My husband was just lamenting that we haven't had potato soup in a while and we certainly have to cold, stormy weather for it! I'll have to add this to our menu this week. 🙂
Natalie
This sounds so warm and comforting. I love how creamy this soup looks. I also love how simple is to make this beauty. I must give it a try. My family will love it too I'm sure.
Paula Montenegro
This soup is so perfect for winter months! We love it here and sometimes add chicken to it.
Veena Azmanov
Potatoes are always yum. I love recipes made with potatoes. Delicious and creamy. This soup is my next favorite.
Amanda
I'm loving this potato soup during these chilly days! It's as cozy as it gets, and it's super simple to make. I definitely plan on making it all winter long.
Pam Greer
This is our favorite potato soup! Perfect comfort food and we love how easy it is to make!
Kelly Anthony
This Irish potato soup is sure to warm anyone up on a cold day. There is nothing more comforting to me than being at home eating a silky bowl of potato soup.
Danielle
It is easy to loose yourself when you have such a delicious dish in front of you! Can't wait to make it now - I am sure I will start counting potatoes, too 🙂
Cindy
This looks delicious! We are always hunting for new recipes! Adding this to the menu plan this week! I cannot wait for my family to try it! YUM!
Candice
I could eat this easy-to-make potato soup all winter long! The best part? It doesn't break the bank. Can't wait to make it again.
Analida
Thanks Candace! I am so glad you liked the recipe.
Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life
My husband has recently discovered potato soup and he just can't seem to get enough. Can't wait to make this version for him. I'm sure he'll love it!
Aline
I never had Irish potato soup, but this looks lovely and easy to make! I'll definitely be trying soon!!!