Cock-a-leekie soup this soup. The vegetarian version has leeks and may include mixed vegetables, chicken flavoured meat substitute and/or prunes. Cock-a-leekie soup Cock-a-leekie soup is a Scottish soup dish consisting of leeks and peppered chicken stock, often thickened with rice, or sometimes barley. The original recipe added prunes during cooking, and traditionalists still garnish with a julienne of prunes. While it is called "Scotland's National Soup", it probably originated as a chicken and onion soup in France. By the 16th century, it had made its way to Scotland, where the onions were replaced with leeks. The first recipe was printed in 1598,
Soup thickened with starch; "bisques" are made from puréed shellfish or vegetables thickened with "cream"; cream soups may be thickened with béchamel sauce; and "veloutés" are thickened with eggs, butter, and cream. Other ingredients commonly used to thicken soups and broths include egg, rice, lentils, flour, and grains; many popular soups also include pumpkin, carrots, and potatoes. Soups are similar to stews, and in some cases there may not be a clear distinction between the two; however, soups generally have more liquid (broth) than stews. Evidence of the existence of soup can be found as far back as about 20,000 BC.