Frequently asked questions
What kind of potato is best for soup?
Boiling potatoes have less starch than baking, or russet, potatoes and consequentially hold together better when boiled. This is why they're often used in soups and for potato salads. Not in this soup, though. Since we want some of the potato to break down into smaller pieces and thicken the soup, baking potatoes are the perfect choice.
Will cheddar cheese melt in soup?
Cheddar will definitely melt here — but you'll want to start with block cheese for this cheddar potato soup. Pre-shredded cheese, though convenient, is coated with an anti-clumping agent that interferes with the cheese's ability to melt smoothly and evenly.
Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen
A few simple ingredients make a sumptuous potato cheese soup. Be sure to use a high-quality cheddar; it's crucial to the dish's flavor. Choose a yellow cheese for the richest color. For a chunkier soup, skip the pureeing and just break up some of the potato with a spoon or masher. To finish, each bowl gets garnished with a smattering of crisp bacon and vibrant green chives.
Suggested pairing
Serve a Washington State Merlot with this rich and smoky soup. Merlots from Washington's Columbia and Yakima Valleys are a bit more restrained than their brethren from California and have a distinct mineral undercurrent that makes them a natural here.
