Ingredients
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
10 pale-green inner ribs celery, coarsely chopped (about 3 1/2 cups)
1/3 cup coarsely chopped shallots
1 small russet potato (about 6 ounces), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Coarse salt
6 cups homemade or low-sodium store-bought chicken stock
1/4 teaspoon plus a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 cup heavy cream, or to taste
Very thin baguette, toasted
Pale-green celery leaves, for garnish
Preparation
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add celery, shallots, potato, and a pinch of salt. Partially cover; cook, stirring often, until vegetables are soft but not browned, about 15 minutes.
Add stock; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low; cover, and cook 30 minutes. Stir in nutmeg. Let cool.
Puree soup in a blender or food processor in batches until completely smooth. Pour through a fine sieve into a large bowl, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Return soup to pan; stir, and season with salt. Just before serving, heat soup over medium heat (do not boil). Stir in cream, and serve topped with baguette slices; garnish with celery leaves.
