Roasted Beet Soup with Crème Fraîche

Ingredients

• 1 small bay leaf 
• 1.5 teaspoons butter 
• 1  celery stalk chopped
• 2 tablespoons crème fraîche sour
• 0.1 teaspoon ground allspice 
• 0.1 teaspoon ground ginger 
• 0.1 teaspoon ground pepper white
• 1  leek white green chopped ( and pale parts only)
• 1.5 teaspoons olive oil 
• 1 small onion thinly sliced
• 1  parsley sprig fresh
• 0.5 pound beets red ( 3 medium)
• 1  thyme sprig fresh
• 2 cups water 
• 0.3 cup whipping cream 

Equipment

• bowl
• sauce pan
• oven
• pot
• blender
• aluminum foil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Wrap beets in foil and roast until tender when pierced with fork, about 1 hour. Cool. Peel beets.
2. Cut 1/4 of 1 beet into 1/4-inch cubes; reserve for garnish.
3. Cut remaining beets into 1/2-inch pieces.
4. Melt butter with oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
5. Add leek, onion, and celery and cook until beginning to brown, stirring frequently, about 13 minutes. Stir in ginger, allspice, white pepper, and 1/2-inch beet pieces. Cook until vegetables begin to stick to bottom of pot, stirring frequently, about 7 minutes.
6. Add 2 cups water, bay leaf, thyme sprig, and parsley sprig. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 25 minutes.
7. Remove bay leaf, thyme sprig, and parsley sprig. Cool soup slightly. Working in batches, puree soup in blender with cream. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly, cover, and refrigerate.)
8. Gently rewarm soup (do not boil). Divide between 2 bowls.
9. Garnish each with 1 tablespoon crème fraîche.
10. Sprinkle with reserved beet cubes.