Roast Apple & Garlic Bisque with Chicken

[phatj]

Roast Apple & Garlic Bisque with Chicken

Serves 4 as Soup.

Adapted from my recently-posted roasted garlic & tomato bisque recipe. I was inspired by a Fat Guy post inquiring about people's uses of the last apples of the season.

• 4 tart apples, such as Granny Smith
  
• 4 whole heads garlic
  
• 3 T olive oil or melted chicken fat
  
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
  
• 1 medium onion, chopped
  
• 1 c sherry
  
• 1 c reduced chicken stock
  
• 2 c heavy cream
  
• 1 T olive oil or melted chicken fat
  
• 1 c cooked chicken pieces (pref. dark meat)
  
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
  
• 1 T minced fresh thyme leaves
  
• chicken cracklings
  

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Cut apples into wedges and cut stem end off of garlic heads. Toss apples and garlic with oil or fat and sprinkle with salt & pepper.

2. Spread apple wedges, peel side down, on a baking sheet. Wrap garlic heads in a foil packet. Put apples and garlic into oven and bake until apples are browned, 45-60 minutes. The garlic can be removed after 45 minutes and left to cool.

3. While apples and garlic are roasting, in a large saucepan, bring sherry, stock and onions to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until alcohol smell abates, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

4. Also while roasting apple & garlic, heat a small skillet over high heat for a few minutes until very hot. Add oil or fat, then chicken pieces. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned all over. Remove from heat and set aside.

5. Scrape apples and any accumulated juices into a blender. Squeeze in cloves from garlic heads, and pour in sherry, stock and onions. Blend until well-combined, pour back into saucepan, and stir in thyme.

6. Over medium-high heat, bring mixture to a boil. Stir in cream and bring back to a boil.

7. Pour bisque through a strainer into a serving bowl. Rock strainer around to let liquid pass, but do not press solids through. Ladle soup into individual bowls, add a few pieces of chicken and a sprinkling of cracklings to each.

Keywords: Soup, Easy, Dinner, Blender

( RG2057 )