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March 22, 2014

Recipes Inspired by Musicals: La Boheme

I wasn’t sure if I could count La Boheme as a musical. It is, after all, an opera – possibly the most tragic and romantic opera ever written. But I’m including it here because Andrew and I saw it performed on Broadway, and because it was nominated for seven Tony Awards in 2003 (including Best Revival of a Musical). And mostly because I set the rules on this blog, and I’m calling it a musical.

The great Baz Luhrmann brought La Boheme to Broadway after a popular run in his hometown of Sydney, Australia. The story is simple. Rodolfo and Mimi, poor bohemians living in Paris, fall in love. They decide to live together, but are torn apart by Rodolfo’s jealousy. Mimi moves out and becomes terminally ill with consumption. She and Rodolfo are reunited one last time; they remember their happy moments, and she dies. The show ends with Rodolfo calling her name in grief and throwing himself upon her dead body.

Even by operatic standards, that’s a lot of sorrow.

Leek and potato soup is a French classic, and it’s as beloved by the wealthy (who might call it vichyssoise) as the poor (for whom the ingredients would be simple and affordable). Whether it’s eaten warm or cold, this soup will appeal to the bohemian – or the aristocrat – in all of us.

Leek and Potato Soup
(from Around my French Table, by Dorie Greenspan)
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 large onion, preferably Spanish, chopped
2 garlic cloves, split, germ removed, and thinly sliced
salt
3 leeks, white and light green parts only, split lengthwise, washed and thinly sliced
1 large russet potato, peeled and cubed
6 thyme sprigs
2 fresh sage leaves (optional)
4 cups chicken broth
3 cups milk
Optional toppings: minced fresh parsley, sage, tarragon or marjoram; grated parmesan; grated gruyere
Melt the butter in a Dutch oven or soup pot over low heat. Add the onion and garlic and stir until they glisten with butter, then season with salt. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes, until the onion is soft but not browned.
Add the remaining ingredients, along with a little more salt, increase the heat, and bring to a boil. As soon as the soup bubbles, turn the heat to low, mostly cover the pot, and simmer gently for 30 to 40 minutes. Taste the soup and season generously with salt.

You can eat the soup as is, or puree with a blender until smooth or semi-smooth. (If you choose to do the latter, I highly recommend using an immersion blender. There are few tragedies worse than a soup-in-the-blender tragedy.)

Filed Under: Recipes Inspired by Musicals, Soup

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. bamskitchen says

    March 22, 2014 at 7:57 am

    La Boheme is one of my favorite operas. I love the first half of the opera and I always cry during the last half. Love a good leek and potato soup a great culinary meeting point between winter and spring.

    Reply
  2. Natalie Aguirre says

    March 22, 2014 at 11:02 am

    Love potato leek soup. Will have to try this once I start cooking more. Right now I'm finishing cleaning my basement.

    Reply
  3. Joanne says

    March 22, 2014 at 11:26 am

    If it was on Broadway it definitely counts as a musical!! Love this comfort-full soup!

    Reply
  4. Valerie Gamine says

    March 22, 2014 at 12:33 pm

    Beth, I have never had the pleasure of seeing La Boheme but for some reason someone bought me soundtrack (with Luciano Pavarotti) when I was in highscool. It's achingly beautiful, even when one can't comprehend the words. Someday I shall see it in person. 🙂

    Lovely soup! It's always bliss to see one of Dorie's recipes.

    Reply
  5. bakewithjill.com says

    March 22, 2014 at 3:37 pm

    This sounds delicious. I need to open up that cookbook more often!

    Reply
  6. Kathy says

    March 23, 2014 at 1:13 am

    I love Leek and Potato soup…When we were in Ireland just about every pub had their own version…and I never tried one I didn’t love.

    Reply
  7. amy (fearless homemaker) says

    March 23, 2014 at 1:28 am

    Oh, this soup sounds SO lovely – right up my alley!

    Reply
  8. vanillasugarblog says

    March 23, 2014 at 10:46 pm

    Do you know, here on cape cod, we are getting more snow AND it's still cold?
    30 degrees cold, more soup needed.
    FYI I know you write children's books, my friend just wrote "Mystery of Eagles Nest" by tamra wight. If you're ever looking for book recs for your teaching classes.

    Reply
  9. I Wilkerson says

    March 24, 2014 at 1:05 pm

    Your soup looks great! I do a potato leek soup with spinach which shouldn't be pureed due to the spinach. When I tried that, the kids started calling it Cream of Pond Scum soup…

    Reply
  10. Andrea_TheKitchenLioness says

    March 24, 2014 at 6:27 pm

    Beth, we love Giacomo Puccini and La Bohème – Dorie Greenspan´s "Around my French Table" and Leek and Potato Soup – perfect! Your soup looks absolutely delicious!

    Reply
  11. Belinda says

    March 24, 2014 at 8:46 pm

    Now that's a classic musical (as is this soup!)

    Reply
  12. Chris Scheuer says

    March 24, 2014 at 11:28 pm

    I love potato soup and love that you've connected it with La Boheme, makes it quite romantic!

    Reply
  13. Liz Berg says

    March 25, 2014 at 1:11 am

    You can't go wrong with a Dorie Greenspan recipe and your soup looks fantastic!

    Reply
  14. Ruth Schiffmann says

    March 25, 2014 at 12:30 pm

    I'm trying to change things up lately – experiment with adding some new recipes to the usual rotation. Think I'll bookmark this. Thanks, Beth =)

    Reply
  15. nancy at good food matters says

    March 25, 2014 at 4:13 pm

    It is supposed to be spring here, but with snow showers this morning, it makes this soup look all the more enticing. Leek and potato, potato-leek–I love this soup in all forms.

    Reply
  16. Caroline Taylor says

    March 25, 2014 at 8:57 pm

    Can't go wrong with leek and potato soup. Lovely.

    Reply
  17. grace says

    March 25, 2014 at 11:59 pm

    you know, i don't think i've ever eaten a leek, at least not knowingly. this soup looks just glorious.

    Reply
  18. Elzbieta Hester says

    March 26, 2014 at 10:47 am

    I'm inspired! The soup looks lovely smooth! 🙂 ela

    Reply
  19. Kitchen Riffs says

    March 26, 2014 at 3:38 pm

    Such a great soup! I love its classic flavor. And it's perfect for La Boheme. And maybe it's not really a musical, it's got such great music. Besides, it's your blog, so what you say goes!

    Reply
  20. Guru Uru says

    March 26, 2014 at 4:50 pm

    I am so in love with La Boheme and this soup, so it goes perfectly together 😀

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    Reply
  21. Katerina says

    March 26, 2014 at 4:52 pm

    I love La Boheme, I saw it many times in our opera house. It is a true passionate opera with beautiful songs and a strong theme. This French potato and leek soup matches perfectly!

    Reply
  22. Daniela Grimburg says

    March 26, 2014 at 6:54 pm

    Love the idea of recipes inspired by musicals.
    I'm sure Mimi and Rodolfo would have loved this tasty soup!
    Have seen la Boheme a few month ago in Vienna with Ana Netrebkov as Mimi, a true feast for opera and musical 🙂 lovers.

    Reply
  23. Juliana Levine says

    March 27, 2014 at 12:26 am

    La Boheme…such a beautiful opera…I have seen a few times and enjoyed every time…
    Like how you describe and paired the opera with the soup…indeed a great combo.
    Hope you are enjoying your week Beth 😀

    Reply
  24. kirstenlopresti says

    March 27, 2014 at 4:06 pm

    This looks delicious!

    Reply
  25. lisa is cooking says

    March 30, 2014 at 9:02 pm

    Leek and Potato Soup is one of Kurt's favorites, and I don't make it often enough. This one sounds lovely with the thyme and sage!

    Reply
  26. Velva says

    March 31, 2014 at 7:22 pm

    Leek and potato soup definitely a French classic-As well as the opera(broadway) show La Boheme. Thanks for sharing!

    Happy spring.

    Velva

    Reply
  27. Jemi Fraser says

    March 31, 2014 at 10:07 pm

    I've been making tons of soup lately – have to try this one next!! 🙂

    Reply
  28. Denise Covey says

    April 2, 2014 at 11:07 am

    I love Baz. He's a genius. Love the look of that soup too. Thanks!

    Reply
  29. Patty Price says

    April 2, 2014 at 9:46 pm

    Hi Beth!
    Love the name Rodolfo 😉
    I've made this recipe with the FFWD group so I know it's very good!
    I'm a lover of classics, books, plays, soups-all good 😉

    Reply
  30. Claudia says

    April 3, 2014 at 2:21 pm

    One of my favorite soups. My daughter asks for this on her birthday – even though leeks are out of season. And my mother's favorite opera – grew up hearing this in the background. Perfect posting!

    Reply

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