RECIPE

© John Kernick

Chestnut Soup with Grappa Cream

• Recipe by Fabio Trabocchi

Growing up in Italy’s Marche region, Fabio Trabocchi roasted chestnuts in the fireplace to eat as a snack while playing cards with his family. At culinary school, he first transformed those chestnuts into this luscious soup. Incredibly creamy, it’s best served in small cups as an hors d’oeuvre.

• Make-Ahead

Ingredients

1. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2. 2 ounces thinly sliced pancetta
3. 2 medium shallots, sliced (1/2 cup)
4. 1/2 cup diced peeled celery root
5. 1/2 pound white mushrooms, sliced
6. One 14-ounce jar vacuum-packed roasted chestnuts, coarsely chopped
7. 4 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
8. 1/4 cup Cognac
9. 1 fresh bay leaf
10. 1 sage sprig
11. 1 thyme sprig, plus 1 tablespoon thyme leaves, for garnish
12. 3/4 cup half-and-half
13. Salt and freshly ground white pepper
14. 1 cup heavy cream
15. 2 tablespoons grappa

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter. Add the pancetta and cook over moderate heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the shallots and celery root and cook until the celery root is just tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a bowl, leaving the pancetta and fat in the saucepan.
2. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter to the saucepan along with the mushrooms and all but 2 tablespoons of the chestnuts. Cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms have released their liquid and are slightly softened, 6 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of the chicken stock and the celery root mixture and cook for 1 minute. Add the Cognac and cook until evaporated, 2 minutes.
3. Add the bay leaf, sage and thyme sprigs to the saucepan along with the remaining 3 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons of chicken stock. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Discard the pancetta, bay leaf, sage and thyme.
4. Working in batches, puree the soup in a blender until creamy and smooth. Return the soup to the saucepan. Stir in the half-and-half, season with salt and white pepper and keep warm.
5. In a large bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, whip the cream until soft peaks form. Beat in the grappa and season with salt and pepper.
6. Ladle the soup into small bowls. Dollop the grappa cream on top, garnish with the thyme leaves and the reserved 2 tablespoons of chestnuts and serve.

Make Ahead

The soup can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Reheat gently before serving, adding a few tablespoons of water to thin it as needed.