Asparagus Bisque Recipes

CREAM OF FRESH ASPARAGUS SOUP II

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine asparagus, chopped onion, and 1/2 cup chicken broth. Cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, and simmer uncovered until asparagus is tender, about 12 minutes. Process the mixture in a blender to puree the vegetables. Set aside.
• In the same saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Stir in the flour, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Whisk in the remaining chicken broth, and increase the heat to medium. Cook, stirring constantly until the mixture boils. Stir in the asparagus puree and the milk.
• Put the sour cream in a small bowl, and stir in a ladleful of the hot soup. Add the sour cream mixture and the lemon juice to the soup. Stir while heating the soup to serving temperature, but don't allow it to boil. Serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS LEEK BISQUE

Steps:

• Snap the asparagus. **
• Chop the stalks into 1-inch pieces and set aside.
• Clean and slice the leeks and set aside.
• In a heavy saucepan, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat until the butter melts and the bubbles subside.
• Adding olive oil is an old French trick to keep the butter from burning, so the olive oil isn't necessary if you use ghee.
• Add the leeks and sauté until softened, about 4 minutes.
• Add chopped asparagus, salt, and pepper. Sauté another 8 to 10 minutes until the asparagus begins to soften.
• Pour in brandy and cook until reduced by half, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add chicken stock and simmer over medium heat until the asparagus is tender, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often.
• Using an immersible blender or working carefully in batches with a standard blender, pureé the soup until smooth.
• The mixture will be quite thick, so work carefully to avoid burns as you blend.
• Return to medium-low heat OR cool and place in the freezer for future meals.
• When ready to serve, heat over medium-low, add cream, and heat just until hot.
• Do not boil.
• Ladle into bowls and place a pile of crabmeat in the middle of each bowl, if using.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP (CRèME D'ASPERGES)

Steps:

• Cut tips from 12 asparagus 1 1/2 inches from top and halve tips lengthwise if thick. Reserve for garnish.
• Cut stalks and all remaining asparagus into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Cook onion in 2 tablespoons butter in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened. Add asparagus pieces and salt and pepper to taste, then cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Add 5 cups broth and simmer, covered, until asparagus is very tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• While soup simmers, cook reserved asparagus tips in boiling salted water until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes, then drain.
• Purée soup in batches in a blender until smooth, transferring to a bowl (use caution when blending hot liquids), and return to pan. Stir in crème fraîche, then add more broth to thin soup to desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Bring soup to a boil and whisk in remaining tablespoon butter.
• Add lemon juice and garnish with asparagus tips.

ASPARAGUS BISQUE WITH CURRY AND CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• Bring 4 1/2 cups water, sliced leeks, and 3/4 teaspoon curry powder to boil in medium pot over medium-high heat. Boil 5 minutes. Add asparagus. Reduce heat to medium; cover and simmer until asparagus is tender, about 15 minutes. Cool slightly. Set aside 2 tablespoons crème fraîche; stir remaining crème fraîche, 4 tablespoons chopped dill, and 3/4 teaspoon curry powder into soup. Puree in batches in blender until smooth. Strain soup into large bowl. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until cold, about 4 hours, or up to 1 day.
• Divide chilled asparagus bisque among 6 bowls. Top each with 1 teaspoon crème fraîche. Sprinkle with remaining chopped fresh dill and whole pink peppercorns, if desired.

COLOSSAL CRAB ASPARAGUS BISQUE

Steps:

• Bring stock and bay leaves to a boil in a large pot. Cook asparagus until tender and add to stock pot. Melt butter in a separate saucepan and gently saute onions, celery, and carrots (mirepoix) until tender, then gradually add flour (with a non-reactive utensil such as a wooden spoon), and cook until similar to a roux. Transfer to the pot of stock to thicken soup. Let simmer for 45 minutes. Remove bay leaves from soup. *Blend to a puree with an immersion blender, or in batches in a blender or food processor. Add cream to the soup, and keep warm over low heat.
• For the crab "souffle," mix crab, mayonnaise, thyme, salt and pepper, and squeeze of fresh lemon juice, trying to avoid breaking up the lumps of crabmeat. Place a scoop of the crabmeat in the center of soup bowl and ladle the asparagus soup around. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
• *When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

SHRIMP AND ASPARAGUS BISQUE

Steps:

• Peel and devein shrimp (reserving shells).
• Heat shrimp shells, garlic, butter, sherry, and stock in a saucepan and heat until boiling. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes until liquid reduces.
• Strain and set aside.
• Cut raw shrimp into bite size pieces.
• Cut tips off asparagus and reserve. Dice remaining asparagus and potatoes.
• In a large saucepan; add soup, milk, shrimp, asparagus, potatoes, shrimp stock, and Tabasco to taste.
• Simmer on medium low heat for 15 minutes.
• Serve immediately and freeze remainder.

ASPARAGUS BRIE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute asparagus in butter until tender. Stir in flour until blended. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Gradually add broth, cream and wine or additional broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 10-15 minutes. , In a blender; cover and process soup in batches until smooth. Return to the pan. Cube Brie and add to soup. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

LOBSTER AND ASPARAGUS AGNOLOTTI

Steps:

• In a pot of boiling water, cook the agnolotti according to directions on the package.
• In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil and add the minced garlic, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the red pepper flakes, clams and shrimp. Once the clams have opened and the shrimp have turned pink in color, add the white wine and diced tomatoes. Allow the wine to evaporate. Finally, add the chopped parsley.
• Drain the agnolotti and place on a serving dish. Pour the sauce over the agnolotti. Serve with salt and pepper for individual seasoning.
• This dish can easily be doubled.

ASPARAGUS BISQUE

Steps:

• Thaw the asparagus.
• Combine all ingredients in saucepan.
• Bring to a boil; simmer covered 8 - 12 minutes or until asparagus is tender.
• Process with blender until smooth.
• Pour into bowl.
• Serve hot or cover and chill at least 4 hours.