Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large shallot, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 large bulb fennel, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 large or 3 small tart, crisp apples such as Honeycrisp, Gravenstein, or Granny Smith, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 stalks celery, sliced in 1/2-inch pieces, leaves and all
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey or sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
3 cups chicken stock
1 cup watercress
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons chopped fennel fronds
1/2 cup heavy cream
Instructions
Melt butter over medium heat in an 8-quart saucepan.
Add shallot and garlic and sweat for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
Add fennel, apple, celery, lemon, honey (or sugar), salt, and chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until everything is very tender and cooked through.
Remove from heat and toss in the greens and herbs. Purée the soup in two batches. At this point you can either simply return it to the pot or pass it through a mesh sieve for a more refined texture.
Stir in the cream and adjust the seasoning to taste. Serve garnished with chopped mint, fennel, and thyme.
Key Points About Ingredients:
- Honeycrisp, Gravenstein, or Granny Smith apples are ideal here — their tartness and firm texture hold up during simmering and provide a bright, fruity counterpoint to the sweet, anise-flavored fennel.
- Fennel fronds are the feathery green tops of the fennel bulb and are packed with flavor; don't discard them — they make a beautiful aromatic garnish.
- Watercress added off the heat preserves its delicate peppery bite and vivid green color, contributing both nutrition and a fresh, lively finish to the puréed soup.
- Using unsalted butter gives you full control over the saltiness of the finished soup, especially since chicken stock can vary widely in sodium content.
- Heavy cream stirred in at the end adds richness and rounds out the acidity of the lemon juice and apples without overwhelming the delicate flavors.
Key Nutritional Insights:
- Fennel is an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber, and its natural compounds have been associated with anti-inflammatory and digestive benefits.
- Apples contribute quercetin and other antioxidants along with natural sugars and soluble fiber, supporting heart health and stable energy levels.
- Watercress is a nutritional powerhouse, providing vitamins K, C, and A, as well as calcium and iron in a very low-calorie package.
- Fresh mint and thyme are rich in antioxidants and have traditionally been used to support digestion and respiratory health.
- The addition of heavy cream increases calorie and saturated fat content per serving, but also aids in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K present in the soup's vegetables and herbs.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size1
- Amount per serving
- Calories285
- Standard DV% Daily Value*
- Total Fat18 g72 g25%
- Saturated Fat11 g20 g55%
- Trans Fat0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat1 g
- Monounsaturated Fat5 g
- Cholesterol52 mg300 mg17.33%
- Sodium420 mg2300 mg18.26%
- Total Carbohydrate28 g275 g10.18%
- Dietary Fiber5 g28 g17.86%
- Total Sugars17 g
- Added Sugars4 g50 g8%
- Sugar Alcohal0 g
- Protein5 g50 g10%
- Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol)12 mcg20 mcg60%
- Calcium90 mg1300 mg6.92%
- Iron1.4 mg18 mg7.78%
- Potassium620 mg4700 mg13.19%
- Vitamin A980 mcg900 mcg108.89%
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)18 mg90 mg20%
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol)1.2 mg15 mg8%
- Vitamin K68 mcg120 mcg56.67%
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)0.08 mg1.2 mg6.67%
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.1 mg1.3 mg7.69%
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin)1.8 mg16 mg11.25%
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)0.18 mg1.7 mg10.59%
- Folate38 mcg400 mcg9.5%
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamine)0.2 mcg2.4 mcg8.33%
- Biotin2 mcg30 mcg6.67%
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)0.5 mg5 mg10%
- Choline28 mg550 mg5.09%
- Phosphorus110 mg1250 mg8.8%
- Iodine5 mcg150 mcg3.33%
- Magnesium24 mg420 mg5.71%
- Zinc0.5 mg11 mg4.55%
- Selenium4 mcg55 mcg7.27%
- Copper0.1 mg0.9 mg11.11%
- Manganese0.3 mg2.3 mg13.04%
- Chromium2 mcg35 mcg5.71%
- Molybdenum4 mcg45 mcg8.89%
- Chloride95 mg2300 mg4.13%
