Christmas

Black Truffle Soup (in Honor of Paul Bocuse)

February  8, 2018
4.5
2 Ratings
Photo by Rocky Luten
  • Serves 4 people
Author Notes

Chef Paul Bocuse famously served this soup to the president of France in 1975. Our version stays fairly true to the original recipe, though we did make some substitutions (simple chicken stock instead of a perfectly clarified consommé, for instance).

This recipe is like a cross between chicken vegetable soup and chicken pot pie. However, the addition of freshly shaved black truffles and (optional) small cubes of foie gras take this soup from humble winter dish to gilded showstopper.

You can always serve this soup without the truffles or the foie gras, and you will still be very happy. It's a nice, warm, flavorful chicken and vegetable soup that doesn't even need the puff pastry—though including it, along with the truffles and foie gras, makes for something truly special. —Josh Cohen

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 4 ounces cremini mushrooms, diced
  • 1/2 celery root, peeled and diced
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup white vermouth
  • 3 cups chicken stock (homemade if possible)
  • 1 poached chicken breast, shredded
  • 4 ounces raw foie gras (optional), diced into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 ounce fresh black truffle
  • A handful of all-purpose flour
  • 1 or 2 sheets of puff pastry (each sheet will be about 8 oz)
  • 1 egg yolk
Directions
  1. Set a large pot over medium heat and add the butter. When the butter begins to sizzle and foam, add the carrots, onion, mushrooms, and celery root. Season with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper and turn the heat up to high. Stirring regularly, cook the vegetables until they soften and begin to slightly caramelize around the edges (about 10 minutes). If you are concerned that the butter is beginning to burn, turn the heat down to medium.
  2. When the vegetables look soft and slightly caramelized, add the vermouth. Stir to deglaze the bottom of the pot. Cook until the vermouth has reduced by about half.
  3. Add the chicken stock and season with another pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper. Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning as necessary.
  4. Remove the pot from the heat. Add the shredded chicken along with the diced foie gras (if using). Stir gently. Next, shave the black truffle as thinly as possible and add the shaved truffle to the soup.
  5. Preheat the oven to 425º F. Fill four ramekins or ovenproof bowls with the soup. Lightly dust a work surface with flour. Take a sheet of puff pastry and roll it out with a rolling pin until it spreads to just less than twice its original size. Use flour as necessary to make sure the puff pastry doesn't stick to the surface you're rolling on. Cut out circles of puff pastry that will fit over the top of your ramekins or ovenproof bowls. If you need to roll out the second sheet of puff pastry to cut enough circles of dough for your bowls/ramekins, please do so.
  6. In a small bowl, mix the egg yolk with a tablespoon of water. Drape the circles of puff pastry over the top of each ramekin/bowl and press the edges of the pastry down over the rim. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the tops of the puff pastry with the egg wash.
  7. Cook the ramekins/bowls of soup for 15 to 20 minutes, until the puff pastry is fully cooked and looks golden brown. Check the puff pastry after 10 minutes. If the crust looks like it's getting too dark, lower the hear to 375º F. When the puff pastry looks crispy and golden, remove the soup from the oven and serve immediately.

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2 Reviews

Nancy February 4, 2024
I had this delicious soup at Paul Bocuse’s restaurant in Lyon (when he was alive and cooking there). Very happy to have the recipe to make at home ☺️
 
Bricktop P. February 10, 2018
1985. My first Michelin *** meal, and it was a true experience. I remember the decor was over the top even then. We started with a piece of warm lyonnaise sausage, followed by the truffle soup. I remember it was LADEN with truffles, which I was having for the first time. Then the bass in puff pastry which was presented and served tableside. Then poulet de Bresse with a cream sauce, and finally the dessert table. As much of anything as you wanted! I had a piece of cake, vanilla ice cream, strawberry sorbet, and the most memorable part of the entire meal, fraises des bois. The intensity of the strawberries was just insane. And the service was impeccable. After the meal we met Mme. Bocuse as the Great Man was away.