Categories: Soups/stews 
      Yield: 6 servings 
  
  2 1/2 oz Finely chopped onion            1 1/4 pt Chicken or vegetable stock 
     10 oz Corsely grated raw potato         1/2 pt Buttermilk, more if desired 
           Fresh young lovage leaves       
  
  Put the onion into a heavy-based saucepan.  Add the stock and bring to 
  boiling point very slowly so the onion begins to soften a little. 
   
  Meanwhile coarsely chop a small handful (5 or so tablespoons) of lovage. 
  Add the potato and herbs to the pan and pour on 1/2 pint buttermilk. 
  Increase the heat very slightly and bring the mixture to a bare simmer. 
  Stir vigorously all the while as the potato starch will thicken the soup, 
  which may stick to the pan base.  Half-cover the pan and reduce heat as low 
  as possible once again.  Cook very gently indeed, stirring occasionally, 
  until the potatoes are perfectly tender. 
   
  Whizz the contents of the pan to a smooth puree.  Season with salt and 
  pepper and with extra lovage if you like.  Whizz again and thin to taste 
  with a little more stock or buttermilk.  Reheat gently or chill thoroughly 
  before serving, then garnish with a swirl of buttermilk and a small 
  flotilla of chopped fresh lovage. 
   
  Source: Philippa Davenport in "Country Living" (British), May 1988. Typed 
  for you by Karen Mintzias