Instructions: In a sauce pan over a medium heat, melt the butter. When it begins to foam, add the onions, zest, and ginger and saute until the onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the lemon juice (with the sugar, if using), and pepper; continue to saute for 2 to 3 minutes longer. Add the water, raise the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to medium, and simmer until the broth is golden and the onions have almost disintegrated, about 30 minutes.

Remove from the heat and strain through a sieve into a clear container; discard the contents of the sieve. Working in batches, if necessary, combine the strained stock and the potatoes in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Transfer the puree to a clean saucepan and bring to a gentle boil.

Ladle into warmed soup bowls and garnish each serving with a little of the parsley.

MEYER LEMONS are sweet: they are a cross between mandarin oranges and Eureka lemons. If you substitute Eureka or Lisbon lemon juice, add sugar to compensate.

Variation: add up to 1 tablespoon slivered ginger. The broth is strained - to remove onions and ginger and peel - before adding the potatoes and pureeing.

Description: "Make a clear broth flavored with onion and lemon; use broth to puree cooked potato."

Yield: "4 cups"

NOTES : This soup can also be served cold. Cover and refrigerate the pureed soup until well chilled, and then adjust the seasoning before ladling into chilled bowls. Serve with crunchy slices of garlic toast alongside. If you cannot find Meyer lemons, you can substitute Eureka or Lisbon lemons and add sugar to taste.

REVIEW: Tested with yukon golds, white onions and eureka or standard lemons. We added sugar and salt to off-set the acids of both lemon and onion. We enjoyed the soup but it was too sharp for our taste. We will try the recipe again to get the right balance.

If we cannot get the Meyer Lemons, then we will half the eureka lemon juice. We thought it might be good as a sauce for an onion and lentil (phyllo) tart. - Pat and Bob 10/99

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