I’m always excited when French Fridays with Dorie recipes are ones I might not have chosen to make myself. This week was Warm Weather Vegetable Pot-au-Feu (pp 378 – 379) – a lighter take on the traditional “meat and potatoes” hearty winter stew Pot-au-Feu that Dorie says has too many possibilities to ignore during the warmer months of the year.
With a base of broth (vegetable or chicken), which briefly cooks the onions, carrots, leeks and potatoes (in their young, pretty spring forms), this is a wonderful light yet hearty dish that is open to a myriad of possibilities depending on what vegetables you prefer and/ or are in season. I stuck to Dorie’s recipe faithfully though, like many of her dishes, she tells us it’s merely a “jumping off point” so next time I will mix things up a little.
The broth is light and “zingy” with both lemon zest and lemongrass and even when served piping hot, it was refreshing – much like a hot bowl of noodle soup on a hot day can be. I followed the 6 minute soft boiled egg method we used in Dorie’s bacon and eggs and asparagus salad a couple of weeks ago and they turned out perfectly…
As you can see, the yolk thickens the broth slightly (and turns it a gorgeous colour!), making it a meal rather than a simple soup.
As is often the case when we have guests over, I served this along with three other “blog food dishes” – a bit discombobulated but a delicious meal, nonetheless. Was a bit nervous with this one because I was serving it to Andrea and Jeff from HighLow FoodDrink (in town from New York for the weekend) but they apparently enjoyed it because she used some of the pictures in her Wordless Wednesday post this week! Phew!
I don’t often think of making soup in the summer but when the produce is inspiring at the farmers’ market, I can see this soup featuring a lot on my table even when it’s hot.
Want to join French Fridays with Dorie? Join here.
French Fridays with Dorie participants do not publish the recipes on our blogs, rather, we prefer if you purchase Around My French Table for yourselves (trust me, you definitely want this book!) which you can do here on Amazon or Amazon Canada. Or for free worldwide shipping, buy from The Book Depository.
This was paired with a – gasp! – Californian Napa Chardonnay.
There’s a bit of a story as to why this particualr bottle “had” to be opened…but let’s just say it was not an entirely planned match.
I’d say the nice buttery notes of oak with some citrus highlights went well; but I would have preferred something with a little less time in wood, and a little less alcohol. (As often the case with California, a bit hot at 14%.) But for a slightly “in-your-face” New World style, the match was still very pleasant.
Ahem, yes, the story being that I left a bottle of chard in the freezer overnight and then we had to let it thaw and drink it the next day whatever we were eating 😉 Actually on the original day I made this, we paired it with some lovely French-style (i.e. not Strongbow) cider. Perfect for a summer afternoon.
So hot that this is perfect. Love the lemongrass and the perfect egg!
It’s a great warm weather dish!
Love the frozen wine story…sounds like something I would do…at least it was served nice and cold 🙂 Beautiful photos, Mardi…even with the egg 😉
Thanks and glad you can appreciate the egg in photos even if not in your bowl!
This could fit in as any season meal! Love the freshness and colorful veggies in the pot.
I love how seasonal this is!
I loved this as well – so glad I participated this time and didn’t miss another chance to enjoy a runny egg!!! Your photos are magazine-lovely.
Yay runny eggs!
Goodness, this looks delicious.
It was really really good!
This was the most yummy soup – and when I had it, paired with a pear cider. 🙂 What a lovely spring lunch sitting on your front porch, enjoying another delicious meal chez Mardi. The light flavour of lemon grass was a lovely compliment to the veggies, and although I was doubtful (being a bit egg-picky), the egg was a perfect ingredient and tasted great! Thanks Mardi.
It was eggstra special, huh? 😉
Oh so glad you tried it and enjoyed!
Oh I would love this any time of year!
Yes it’s perfect!
Funny that my reaction going into this one was the opposite, in that I would not have tried the recipe if not for FFwD. Good thing I did. My family really enjoyed it and want it again. Nana loved her results as well but there was not a big surprise on that one 🙂 And enjoyed your story about the frozen wine. Never a dull moment but it all sounds like great fun.
No, I would not have tried this recipe had it not been for Dorie either! So glad I did!
What a perfect starter. Gorgeous photos, too – sounds like a very successful dinner party. 🙂
Oh it was a lunch party with a pot luck of different blog food dishes!
I loved the “zing” added by the lemongrass and lime peel. Such a light and delicious veggie dish, love the bright color in yours 🙂
Yes the citrus and lemongrass was wonderful!
Thanks Mardi for the twitter encouragement I needed yesterday to go ahead and make the soup. I made it this morning, and just as you said, it was wonderful. Your pictures are great. Have a wonderful “French Friday”.
YAY for encouraging someone to make a dish they loved!!!
I have to admit, when I saw the egg in the bowl I was a little surprised and intrigued. I’ve never had a soup served with a soft cooked egg in it before. Glad to read on and see that it was a lovely and tasteful dish and that you were both happy with it.
It was so good Paula, even if you are skeptical, you should try it!
I love your dishes! We loved this at my house. It’s something that I would actually make again!
Me too!
Beautiful plating with the blue and white dishes and napkin – such a nice contrast with the vegetables and rich egg yolk. I think I poached my egg a little too long, but next time will make sure it’s runny enough to enrich the broth like yours!
Yes I made sure to time the egg so it WOULD have a runny yolk. 6 minutes seems to do the trick.
I also like to try a recipe from the book that I normally wouldn’t have chosen. I loved this soup too! Even though it’s super hot here, we will be having it throughout the summer. Yours looks wonderful!
It’s great for a hot night too!
Seeing everyone’s links makes me want to throw another batch together… it is yet another rainy night! Your bowl is so cute, especially against the wooden background.
It’s the perfect soup for a rainy night…
… And it won IACP award!!!
I know, GO DORIE!
I’m not sure I would have picked this one from the cookbook but looking at it you have inspired me to make it.
No, neither was I – that’s what I love about these challenges…. Making me make dishes I wouldn’t choose otherwise…
This was a rather lovely surprise.
The dish you picked to serve the soup showed off the colors in the soup beautifully.
Thanks so much – it’s just our regular dinnerware!
I love any and all soup. This particular one looks so tasty and tempting. Love the ingredients and can only imagine how great the flavours are together. Another Dorie winner!
It really is a wonderful flavour profile!
This looks so comforting! Though here in Big Sur, I could really use a big bowl of something warm.
Ah this would be perfect for a windswept cliff picnic!
Oh, when I saw the first picture, I was hoping it was a soft boiled egg! You didn’t let me down!
Well now I know how to make them, I will be making them all the time!
Wasn’t this a wonderful soup… I swear that egg made it that much better. I wish the rest of this household would have tried it with the egg.
Chard in the freezer…overnight. :)) I have done that way too many times.
The egg totally made this dish!
Wow Mardi love this. Not much Vegetarian options in French cuisine so this is special!
Isn’t it fab?
Merci beaucoup Mardi! Your lunch was fab and this warm weather vegetable pot au feu was even more tasty than it looks (impossible as it may seem from your beautiful pics!) Jeff and I loved your runny poached egg, the crisp asparagus, and wonderfully complex flavor stemmed from seemingly simple vegetables. SO GOOD!
I love that you loved this!
Lovely… The dish and the photos!
Thanks Jen!
I don’t think I have ever had anything like this before. It really does look delightful.
Jason
Special, huh?
I played catch up with this recipe and made it (not intentionally) during one of the hottest weeks we have had so far in England and loved it despite the heat. It was delicious and a great way to showcase spring veggies! And I HAD to have the egg on top….
This is a GREAT warm weather dish!