Cold Cream of Cucumber Soup

Ingredients:

• 5 cups vegetable broth
• 5 smooth-skinned cucumbers
• 1 potato peeled and coarsely chopped
• 2 leeks coarsely chopped
• 1 shallot chopped
• 4 cloves garlic peeled and halved
• 1 cup sour cream or 1 cup yogurt
• salt freshly ground black pepper
• fresh chives

Steps:

• Bring the vegetable broth to the boil
• Chop 4 of the cucumbers coarsely
• Thinly slice the fifth and set the slices aside
• Add the chopped cucumbers potato leeks shallot and garlic to the boiling broth and cook until tender about 45 minutes
• Remove from heat and blend
• Add salt and pepper to taste and cool
• Refrigerate for several hours until well chilled
• To serve pour the chilled soup into a soup tureen add the sliced cucumbers and chopped chives
• Spoon the sour cream or yogurt on top or serve it separately at the table