Method

Melt the butter in a large saucepan, add the onion, potatoes and leeks, and stir to coat the vegetables in butter. Continue to fry over a medium heat for about 10 minutes until the vegetables start to soften. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and cook, covered, for 20 minutes.

Pass the soup through a food mill and return to the rinsed-out pan. (Do not blitz the soup in a food-processor, as this gives the soup a gluey texture.) Add the rocket to the pan and cook, uncovered, over a medium heat for a further 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, halve the ciabatta loaves lengthways and toast under a grill until crisp and brown. Leave to cool slightly, then rub all over with the garlic cloves and cut into 2cm cubes.

Stir the cream into the soup, season with salt and pepper and ladle into warmed soup bowls. Serve immediately with a few garlic ciabatta croûtons on top.

Extract from Gino D’Acampo’s Fantastico – Modern Italian Food, published by Kyle Books. Available at all good book stores for R315.