80 velveting recipes

Low-fat mushroom gravy made with brandy, sauteed mushrooms, and milk instead of butter or drippings. Rich flavor with a velvety smooth finish.

Pureed peanut soup with butternut squash, potatoes, and coriander, topped with crispy cornmeal-crusted baked okra croutons. West African inspired and velvety rich.

Smoked acorn squash and wild rice bisque blends fire-kissed squash, sage, thyme, and chili flakes into a velvety bowl, finished with chewy wild rice and a squeeze of lemon for brightness.

Hortosoupa, a classic Greek pureed vegetable soup with potatoes, carrots, celery, and tomatoes. Simple, velvety, and naturally vegan. Served with croutons and olive oil.

Roasted corn soup with oven-roasted cobs, garlic, potato, red capsicum, and cream. Smoky, sweet, and velvety with whole kernels stirred through for texture.

Creamy pinto bean soup pureed smooth with chile, onion, and light cream, garnished with toasted pine nuts, cilantro, and chives. From-scratch beans cooked until velvety.

Baked chickpeas slow-cook in an earthenware pot with sweet sauteed onions, fresh chile, garlic, and oregano in their own velvety cooking liquid. Greek-style vegan main or side that gets better the longer it bakes.

Velvety artichoke soup with roasted hazelnuts, hazelnut oil, and a splash of sherry. Naturally thickened with rice flour, making it a gluten-free elegant starter.

Turbot fillets gently poached in milk infused with anise-scented Pernod, then napped with a velvety egg yolk sauce. This elegant French-style fish dish needs just a handful of ingredients and an hour of your time.

German hasenpfeffer: rabbit marinated in vinegar and wine, then braised with bacon, onions, and a touch of chocolate for a velvety sauce. Old-world hunter's stew.

Bolivian peanut soup (sopa de mani) with roasted peanuts and peanut butter pureed with boiled potatoes into a thick, nutty, velvety broth. Garnished with fresh chives.

Revithia soupa, a traditional Greek chickpea soup with just olive oil, onion, and lemon. Six simple ingredients simmered low and slow for a velvety, comforting bowl.

Creamy curried zucchini soup blended smooth with no cream needed. Curry powder and cinnamon spice up five cups of zucchini into a velvety, low-calorie soup.

Velvety pureed avocado soup simmered with cumin, coriander, and garlic, then studded with brined green peppercorns for a sharp, peppery bite. Creamy, savory, and completely unexpected.

Velvety cold curried carrot soup with coconut milk, ginger, and lime, topped with crisp shrimp. A showstopping chilled soup starter that's worth every minute of chill time.

Striped bass fillets baked in white wine and lemon butter, finished with a velvety cream sauce enriched with egg yolks, tomatoes, mushrooms, and shallots. French-inspired elegance for a crowd.