Potato-Cilantro Bisque

Name: Potato-Cilantro Bisque
Yield: serves 4
Ingredients: 4 large russet potatoes, peeled and quartered; 6 cups chicken stock (page 91) or water; 3 cloves garlic, whole; 1 teaspoon coriander seeds; 1 teaspoon cumin seeds; 1 (4-ounce) can diced roasted green chiles; 1 bunch green onions, green parts only, thinly sliced; 1/2 cup cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped; 1 cup sour cream; Salt

December 9, 2011

This comforting soup is delicately spiced with classic flavors and ingredients of the Southwest.

Cooks' Note

Suggested Beverage: Mount Palomar Winery in Temecula, California, makes the only Cortese (a northern Italian white wine grape variety) in the United States, as far as I know. Winemaker Etienne Cowper discovered Cortese vines in an abandoned vineyard in New Mexico and moved cuttings to a vineyard in Temecula. It’s a crisp, delightful wine and goes beautifully with this soup.

Recipe notes

Smothered Italian Sausage

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.

Salmon With Sizzled Nut Salsa

A savory-hot salsa made with mixed nuts (like the kind dubbed cocktail nuts meant for snacking) gives roast salmon a kaleidoscope of textures and flavors.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.

One-Pot Chicken Thighs With Cilantro Rice and Beans

This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

Golden Mushroom Soup With Orzo & a Pat of Butter

This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.