Creamy Chicken Almond Soup With Croutons

Ingredients

• 1 quart chicken stock
• White meat of chicken (enough for 1 quart stock)
• 5-6 blanched almonds
• Breadcrumbs soaked in milk or broth (1/5 quantity of meat)
• 1 egg yolk (optional, for richness)
• Stale bread, cut into cubes
• Deep fat for frying
• Grated cheese for serving

Method

1. 1 Grind chicken meat and blanched almonds together into a paste.
2. 2 Mix in breadcrumbs soaked in milk or broth (amount should be 1/5 of the meat quantity).
3. 3 Rub the mixture to a smooth paste and add hot broth, stirring well.
4. 4 For a richer consistency, temper 1 egg yolk with hot broth and stir into the soup. Do not boil after adding egg.
5. 5 Fry bread cubes in deep fat until golden to make croutons.
6. 6 Serve soup topped with croutons and a side of grated cheese.