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Wisconsin beer cheese soup
Velvety sharp cheddar and lager soup with soft pretzels
AmericanBeer cheese soup is a Wisconsin tavern and Packers game-day classic, made with the state's sharp cheddar and a local lager and served with soft pretzels or popcorn on top. It is thick, silky and tangy, with a little mustard and smoked paprika. It contains beer; most of the alcohol cooks off but not all, so for an alcohol-free version use alcohol-free lager or extra stock with 1 tsp cider vinegar. Aged cheddar is often made with animal rennet, so use a vegetarian cheddar. Chef's tip: add the cheese off the heat, a handful at a time, or it turns grainy.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (6)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Melt the 1 ¾ oz butter in a heavy pot over a medium heat and cook the 1 onion, 1 carrot and 1 celery stick for 8 minutes until soft. Add the 2 cloves garlic for 1 minute.
9 minStep 2: Stir in the 1 ⅝ oz plain flour and cook 2 minutes, then whisk in the 1 ½ cups lager (or alcohol-free lager) slowly and let it bubble for 2 minutes. Whisk in the 2 cups vegetable stock and simmer 12 minutes.
16 minStep 3: Blend until smooth, then whisk in the 1 cup whole milk, 1 tsp English or Dijon mustard and ½ tsp smoked paprika and bring back to a bare simmer.
4 minStep 4: Take off the heat and stir in the 10 ½ oz sharp cheddar (vegetarian rennet) a handful at a time, waiting for each to melt. A common mistake is boiling after the cheese goes in, which makes it split and stringy.
4 minStep 5: Season with ½ tsp salt and serve with 4 soft pretzels or popcorn for dipping.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 450 kcal
- Protein
- 18 g
- Carbs
- 18 g
- Fat
- 32 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does wisconsin beer cheese soup take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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