Winter White Soup

1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 cloves garlic, chopped 2 shallots, chopped 1 (1 inch) piece fresh ginger, minced 3 green onions, chopped 1/3 small head cauliflower, chopped 1 small parsnip, chopped 10 small button mushrooms, chopped 1 pear - peeled, cored and diced 1/2 cup cannellini beans 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill3/4 cup Chardonnay wine6 sprigs fresh thyme1 (14.5 ounce) can fat-free chicken broth1/3 cup heavy cream salt and pepper to taste 1/4 cup fat-free chicken broth (optional)Heat the butter and olive oil in a large saucepan over low heat. Stir in the garlic, shallots, and ginger, and cook until fragrant but not brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the green onions, cauliflower, parsnip, and mushrooms, and cook and stir an additional 5 minutes. Add the pear, beans, mustard, and dill, and stir just until heated, about 1 minute. Stir in the wine and thyme, and turn up the heat to high. Boil, stirring constantly, until the wine is reduced by half and is syrupy, about 5 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth. Return the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, partly covered, until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Allow the soup to cool slightly. Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup right in the cooking pot. Stir in cream, and, if needed, thin with additional chicken broth; serve hot. You may wish to serve this soup the next day. It will improve in taste with time. Amount Per Serving  Calories: 190 | Total Fat: 9.4g | Cholesterol: 23mg Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database
Servings Per Recipe: 6
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 190
Total Fat: 9.4gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 278mgTotal Carbs: 17.6g    Dietary Fiber: 3.6gProtein: 4.9g