RECIPE: Beer and Cheddar Soup with Strange Fellows Brewing Guardian White IPA

TUC Craft Kitchen
chef Roy Flemming’s hearty beer and cheddar soup features Strange Fellows Guardian IPA and is topped with a homemade oat crumble. Dan Toulgoet photo

By Roy Flemming, executive chef for Tuc Craft Kitchen

 

Born in the UK and raised in the Caribbean, New York City and Montreal, TUC Craft Kitchen executive chef Roy Flemming has spent more than two decades in the kitchen, blending classical techniques with inspiration from the rustic flavours and family traditions of the far-flung locales he has lived. At Vancouver’s Tuc, Roy has created a menu that is seasonally informed, locally sourced and showcases his signature brand of nourishing comfort food that is artfully prepared and plated.

 

Why do you love this recipe? Is there a personal anecdote behind it you can share?
I created this beer and cheddar soup for our fall menu at TUC with the intention of celebrating all that this season brings. As a child, I used to go apple picking in the fall and our family would make pies, crumble and apple cider. One of my favorites snacks growing up was apples with cheddar cheese; I took inspiration from this combination and created a hearty cheddar soup featuring apple cider and a great craft beer.

 

Tell us why you chose this beer? What sort of foods does it pair well with?
I chose Strange Fellows Brewing Guardian White IPA because of its aromatic intensity, balance and mild hoppiness. I find this beer quite versatile, pairing nicely with a hearty salad or pasta as well as a few bar snacks like spicy wings or a Tuc favourite, pork belly with star anise red wine reduction.

 

What are some general tips you have for cooking with beer, specifically with soups or sauces?

Always cook with a beer that you like to drink, as the characteristics will be evident in the final product. Beer with a higher alcohol content will be more bitter than one with a lower alcohol content so go easy when pouring to ensure balance. IPAs, stouts and pale ales tend to go with hearty foods while lagers and pilsners typically pair best with lighter foods.

–Rob Mangelsdorf

 

Dan Toulgoet photo

Recipe makes four litres of soup

 

Ingredients

For the soup

¾ cup canola oil

3 onions (minced)

¾ cup flour

2 cups Strange Fellows Brewing Guardian White IPA

4 cups apple cider

½ cup Dijon mustard (not grainy)

8 cups chicken stock

8 sprigs of thyme (stems removed)

2 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

6 bay leaves

2 cups 35% whipping cream

1 tbsp kosher salt and pepper

1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)

 

For the oat crumble

1 cup old fashioned oats

2 Tbsp flour

¼ tsp kosher salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 Tbsp brown sugar

6 Tbsp unsalted butter (softened)

 

Dan Toulgoet photo

Directions

Preparing the oat crumble

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 F
  2. In a bowl combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.
  3. Add the softened butter and use your fingers to crumble it into the oat mixture until everything is moist and the butter is evenly distributed.
  4. Spread oat mixture evenly onto a baking sheet
  5. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking, until crisp and golden brown and smells amazing.

 

Making the soup

  1. Add oil and onions to a pot and cook for 15 minutes on medium heat
  2. Add flour and stir and cook for three minutes
  3. Pour in beer and cook for five more minutes.
  4. Add apple cider, stock, Dijon mustard, thyme, nutmeg, cloves, pepper and bay leaves to soup mixture and simmer on medium heat for one hour.
  5. Add whipping cream, cheese and salt and pepper to the soup and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes.
  6. Remove from the stovetop and allow soup to cool to 70 C within two hours and 40 C within 4 hours.
  7. Serve and garnish with oat crumble and a large pinch of shredded cheddar cheese.

 

Dan Toulgoet photo

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