Puree of Spring Greens

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons light olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups water with 2 vegetable bouillon cubes. or other stock option (page 00)
• 2 large potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 bunch Asian greens, any variety, thick midribs trimmed, leaves coarsely chopped (see Note)
• 8 to 10 ounces spinach, stemmed and well washed
• 2 heads green lettuce, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 to 1 cup parsley leaves
• 1 to 2 cups rice milk, or as needed
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• Silk creamer for garnish, optional

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a soup pot. Add the onion and saute until translucent. Add the garlic and continue to saute until the onion is golden.
2. Add the water with bouillon cubes and potatoes. Bring to a rapid simmer, then lower the heat. Cover and simmer gently until the potatoes are tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Add the Asian greens and cover. Simmer gently for 5 minutes. Add the spinach leaves and cover; cook just until they wilt down.
4. Add the lettuce leaves and parsley and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, or until all the greens are just tender.
5. Puree the mixture in batches until smooth in a food processor. Return to the soup pot and stir in enough rice milk to give the soup a slightly thick consistency. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
6. For an optional, pretty garnish, pour some creamer into a small-spouted pitcher and pour a spiral design onto the top of each serving.

Notes