Lettuce Soup

• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 medium new potatoes, diced 1/4 inch
• 2 heads romaine lettuce, sliced, hard end discarded
• 5 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1 1/2 inch thick deli ham ( I use hickory smoked ) cut into bite sized pieces
• 1/4 cup julienned (not grated) parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Melt butter over medium heat in a heavy Soup Pot or Dutch Oven. Saute onion and potatoe in the butter until the onion browns slightly and the potato starts to stick.
2. Pour in 1/4 cup of the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, loosening any brown bits from the bottom.
3. Add the lettuce, stir and cover to steam briefly. Stir every minute or so and continue until the lettuce is thoroughly wilted.
4. Add the rest of the broth and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Turn off the heat, add the basil and process with an immersion blender. Add the salt and pepper to taste.
6. Add the ham and cheese and stir briefly ( you don't want the cheese to disappear)
7. Serve with a loaf of crusty bread or good croutons.

butter, onion, new potatoes, chicken broth, fresh basil, deli ham, parmesan cheese, salt

Taken from food52.com/recipes/18963-lettuce-soup (may not work)