Chris over at NIBBLE ME THIS invented this awesome soup that has become a family favorite here at our house! I’ve adapted it to what I had on hand and it was fabulous!
I loved Chris’ choices:
Fat – Had to be butter, since that goes into hot wing sauce, right?
Mirepoix – Celery & carrot. Celery because it is a standard accompaniment and carrot to help get the orange color I wanted.
Starch – I thought about using potatoes but went with buttery croutons instead.
Liquid – Chicken broth, beer and hot sauce – a no brainer
Hot Wing Soup
1 stick unsalted butter
5 cups Italian bread cubes, no crust* I used San Luis Cracked Wheat Sourdough
1/2 cup finely diced carrot
1/4 cup finely diced celery
salt (see instructions)
1/2 Tbsp paprika I used Sweet Hungarian
4 cups chicken broth
12 oz dark beer* I used Amberbock that I had on hand
2 Tbsp hot sauce* I used Frank’s
1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles I used gorgonzola
garnish: meat from chicken wings, more blue gorgonzola cheese, chopped celery leaves*
- Preheat a heavy bottom stock pan over medium high heat.
- Add 3 tablespoons butter. Once bubbling hot, add the bread cubes and quickly toss to coat evenly. Season with a pinch or two of salt. Cook until golden brown on all sides – about 5-7 minutes. Remove.
- Reduce heat to medium, add 4 tablespoons butter to the now empty pot. Saute the celery and carrot until tender – about 8 minutes. Season with a pinch or two of salt while sauteing.
- Add the chicken broth, beer, paprika, gorgonzola cheese, and the croutons that you made earlier. Bring to a simmer and cook until the bread begins to break apart – about 5-6 minutes.
- Use an immersion blender to blend to a smooth consistency.
- Bring back to a simmer and stir in the last tablespoon of cold butter. I know that technique at the end of sauces adds a little luster so I thought it couldn’t hurt with soup. Taste for seasoning. I added about 1/2 teaspoon more of salt at this point but let your taste buds be the judge.
- Garnish with chicken wing meat, more cheese crumbles, and finely chopped celery leaves.
- Bread – I know, this sounds like a lot. It will cook down. He’s so right!!
- Beer – I used Sweetwater Brewing Georgia Brown but any good dark beer will do. You could also skip beer altogether and use more chicken broth but beer and wings go together, right?
- Hot sauce – The family thought it was a little spicy at this level so if you want mild, just use one Tbsp Franks Hot Sauce would be the traditional hot sauce to use but I used Fire Ant Juice.
- Celery leaves – Weird? I like chopping them finely for a garnish. Use parsley instead if you like.
- Makes 4 servings
