# The Ingredients You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 2 large leeks (white and light green parts only), cleaned and sliced
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 4 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced (approximately 1.3 pounds)
07 - 2 stalks celery, diced
→ Liquids
08 - 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
09 - 1 cup whole milk (or heavy cream for enhanced richness)
→ Seasonings
10 - 1 bay leaf
11 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or 0.5 teaspoon dried)
12 - 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
13 - 0.75 teaspoon kosher salt (adjust to taste)
→ Optional Garnish
14 - 7 ounces cooked seafood (shrimp, scallops, or white fish), or 4 strips cooked bacon, crumbled, or fresh chives and parsley for garnish
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
01 - In a large pot, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add sliced leeks and diced onion, cooking for 5 to 6 minutes until softened but not browned.
02 - Add minced garlic and diced celery, sautéing for 2 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Stir in diced potatoes, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper. Pour in broth and bring to a boil.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes until potatoes are very tender.
05 - Remove bay leaf. Use an immersion blender to purée soup until smooth, or leave slightly chunky if preferred.
06 - Stir in milk or cream and gently reheat. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - For seafood chowder, fold in cooked seafood and heat through for 2 to 3 minutes. For bacon garnish, ladle soup into bowls and top with crumbled bacon.
08 - Garnish with fresh chives or parsley if desired. Serve hot.
