The other day I had a sudden urge for Marie Calendar’s Potato Cheese soup. I did a search online for a vegan potato "cheese" soup which came up short. I did find a recipe for Marie's soup though, which three main ingredients were cream, butter, chicken stock, and cheese. I figured I could not only "veganize" the recipe, but also reduce the calorie count.
The only ingredient I did not have at my house was the silken tofu. So after picking that up I got started. I still would not classify this as a low calorie meal. It has to be an improvement over the original recipe. I have had tofu "cream" based soups before, and you would never guess this one is tofu based.
Restaurant Style Potato “Chreese” Soup Ingredients
4 tb Vegan Soy Butter
14 oz block of Silken Tofu
1/2 c Celery, finely chopped
2 1/2 c Vegetable stock
1 c Onion, finely chopped
1/2 ts Salt
2 md Potatoes, peeled and cubed (small cubes)
1/2 ts White pepper
1/4 c Flour
8 oz Tofutti Better then Cream Cheese
1 Pckg. Road’s End Cheddar Chreese (www.chreese.com/packets.itml)
Instructions
Blend tofu until smooth. Set aside, should yield about two cups.
Melt soy butter in large saucepan. Sauté celery, onions and potatoes in
butter over medium heat for about 10 min – 12 min.
Stir in tofu and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds.
Gradually add milk and vegtable stock to vegetable mixture.
Gradually add tofutti cream cheese. Cook, stirring constantly, until soup
comes to a boil.
Add Chreese Powder. Mix well.
Reduce heat to simmer; cover and cook for 25 minutes, stirring
occasionally.
Remove from heat and cool 10 - 15 min. Puree in batches (if desired) in food processor fitted with metal blade.
Return soup to saucepan over low.
Note: The soup taste great with or without the “Chreese” Vegan Cheddar replacement. The tofutti cream cheese and the chreese can be substituted by 8 oz of any vegan cheese that melts.