This German cheese and leek soup with ground pork is thick, creamy, and filling. It's THE German soup that everybody loves, especially at parties.
This German cheese and leek soup is one of my mother-in-law's signature dishes, just like her German Beef Soup with Marrow Dumplings or Salad "Torte". I've eaten all three at her house more often than I've made them myself. But I've had this soup countless times at friends' and neighbors' homes, too.
She told me she got the recipe sometime in the 1980s, so you could call this a vintage recipe. It's still incredibly popular around here; almost everybody I know makes it regularly! It was one of the first dishes I ate after arriving in Germany, and I've had it more times than I can count since then.
This German cheese soup with pork and leeks is very easy to make and requires only a few inexpensive ingredients. It's also extremely filling; one pot goes a long way.
Ingredients: 8 + oil, salt & pepper | Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Servings: 4-6 | Difficulty: Easy
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Recipe ingredients
Leeks: They're very popular in Germany, available all year round, and usually inexpensive. If you like them, try my Bacon Potato and Leek Soup the Romanian Leek and Black Olive Stew, or my Creamy Chicken and Leeks.
Cheese: You need soft, spreadable processed cheese wedges, called Schmelzkäse in Germany. In the US, The Laughing Cow Creamy Original cheese wedges are a good alternative. Use the original flavor.
Pork: My mother-in-law always makes this soup with Mett, which is ground pork seasoned with salt, pepper, a little garlic, and caraway. Mett is usually eaten raw on bread rolls with onions. Not my thing, I have to say.
- However, I really like cooked Mett in this soup. It's basically just seasoned ground pork. If you don't live in Germany, use plain ground pork instead and season it yourself.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make German leek and cheese soup?
Step #1: Clean and chop the leeks.
Step #2: Brown the pork; add ground caraway, garlic, salt, and pepper. If using Mett, you will not have to season the meat.
Step #3: Add the leeks and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Step #4: Add broth and bring to a simmer. Cook for about 20 minutes or until soft.
Step #5: Break the cheese into small pieces and add them to the soup.
Step #6: Stir until the cheese has melted completely and the soup is smooth, with no lumps remaining. Let simmer for a couple of minutes and adjust the taste.
Store and reheat
You can also make the soup in advance and reheat it before serving.
Store it for 2-3 days in the covered pot in the fridge.
I never freeze it because there is never any left over and because I am not sure that the cheese would freeze well.
How to serve the soup?
This ground pork and leek soup is a meal in itself. You don't need much on the side except some bread. Serve it with buttered crusty white bread, Spelt Bread, Chive Bread, sourdough, or Homemade Dinner Rolls.
This soup is a very popular party food in Germany. I can't even count how many times I had it at one party or another.
The recipe serves about 6 people, but you can easily double or triple it. You just need to find a pot large enough...
German Cheese and Leek Soup with Ground Pork
Equipment
- soup pot
Ingredients
- 3 large leeks about 1.5 lbs/ 700 g after cleaning
- 1 medium onion
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 12.5 oz ground pork Note 1
- 1 pinch ground caraway
- 1 garlic clove
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 10.5 oz processed cheese wedges such as The Laughing Cow Creamy Original, Note 2
- fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 small bunch fresh chives
Instructions
- Prepare the leeks: Trim the root ends and remove the wilted dark green tops, about 1 inch (2 cm). Cut the leeks lengthwise from where the white part meets the green part toward the top, without cutting all the way through. Fan open the layers and rinse thoroughly under cold running water to remove any dirt. Slice the cleaned leeks.3 large leeks
- Finely chop the onion. Set aside.1 medium onion
- Brown the pork: Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground pork and cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon - 4-5 minutes. Add the ground caraway, grated garlic, and some salt and pepper. If using seasoned German Mett, you won't need to add these seasonings.1 tablespoon vegetable oil + 12.5 oz ground pork + 1 pinch ground caraway + 1 garlic clove
- Cook the vegetables: Add the chopped leeks and onion to the pot. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Simmer the soup: Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and cook gently for about 20 minutes, or until the leeks are soft.4 cups vegetable broth
- Add the cheese: Break the cheese wedges into smaller pieces and add them to the soup. Stir until the cheese has melted completely and the soup is smooth, with no lumps remaining.10.5 oz processed cheese wedges
- Finish the soup: Simmer gently for another couple of minutes. The soup should be quite thick, but you can add a little more broth if you prefer a thinner consistency (Note 3).
- Season and serve: Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Sprinkle with chopped chives and serve hot with bread.fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper + 1 small bunch fresh chives
Notes
- Ground pork: In Germany, this soup is often made with Mett, which is ground pork already seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and sometimes caraway. If using Mett, you can skip the additional seasonings when browning the meat. Plain ground pork works just as well.
- Cheese: I use German Schmelzkäse triangles. In the US, The Laughing Cow Creamy Original cheese wedges are a good substitute. Choose the original flavor or a mild cheese flavor.
- Consistency: This is supposed to be a thick, filling soup.
Thomas M Colla says
Looks like Amazon is out of Laughing Cow cheese but Aldi has a substitute: Happy Farms Original Swiss Spreadable Cheese Wedges
Carol says
Thanks for this recipe. My friend gave me the recipe after eating this for a meal when I was staying with her in Germany. Been a while since I made it and had forgotten how do your recipe has refreshed my memory. A really d delicious soup.
Adina says
Hi Carol, thank you for the feedback. This must be one of the most popular German soups and it's so delicious!
Karen says
Hi, just wondering if you think this would freeze ok? Recipe looks good can't wait to try it. Thank you!
Adina says
Hi Karen. I can't say for sure as I've never done it. I think laughing cow cheese is not suitable for freezing.
Kim says
This was amazing. I’m American (and vegetarian) and used vegetarian “pork” sausage - blasphemy, I know - and it still turned out incredible. Great for a cold winter day!
Christiane Burford says
I'm German living in Australia and I love German food
Adina says
Hi Christiane. I hope you will find some recipes that you like. ??
Helene says
Just made this soup
So nice and filling
Had some homemade bread with it
Got other portions to go in freezer
Thank you
Adina says
Thank you for the feedback. :)I am glad you liked it.
meh says
What part of the country are you in that LEEKS are CHEAP?
Adina says
I live in Germany. Leeks cost next to nothing, especially when in season.
Jessie M says
Can you add carrots celery and potatoes or would that change the soup entirely?
Adina says
I would not add them, Jessie. This is a super traditional German soup, adding something wuould change it too much. The soup it is best served with bread.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I love all the soups you've been making! Soup is one of my most favorite things in the world. This cheesy leek soup is right up my alley, it looks fantastic!
Adina says
Thank you, Kimberly, I love soups too, there's is nothing that I cook more often than soup. 🙂
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
This looks delicious!! I'd love to try it out, but I'm wondering what might be an equivalent to Sahneschmelzkäse here in the US. We have Velveta, which is a yellow processed cheese, and I don't think that what I'm looking for in this particular recipe. I'll have to do some looking around 🙂
Shannon says
@Thao @ In Good Flavor,
Shannon says
Laughing cow cheese. I generally find it in the bakery section.
Adina says
?? Glad you found it!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
This looks amazing and this is the season for soups. There's nothing better than a warm soup on a cold day.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Wish my husband ate cheese and cooked veggies...I am going to keep this all to myself!