Asparagus Soup With Goat Cheese Crostini And Mushrooms Recipes

CHILLED ASPARAGUS SOUP WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Coat a large saucepan with olive oil. Add the onion, celery and garlic and bring to a medium heat. Season with salt and sweat until the vegetables are very soft and aromatic, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the tips from the asparagus and reserve. Cut the stalks of the asparagus into 1-inch lengths and add them to the pot. Sweat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the potatoes and the stock. Taste for seasoning and add salt, if needed (it will). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
• On a separate burner, bring a small pot of well salted water to a boil over high heat. Have a small bowl of well salted ice water on standby. Cook the asparagus tips in the boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove them from the boiling water and plunge them immediately into the ice water. When the tips are cool, remove them from the water, pat dry and reserve.
• In a blender or with an immersion blender, puree the asparagus stock mixture. Strain through a mesh strainer, if desired. Taste and adjust the seasonings, if needed. Chill.
• Garnish with the reserved asparagus tips and crumbled goat cheese. Springtime delicious!

CREAMY ASPARAGUS SOUP WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat 2 T oil over moderate heat. Add the mushrooms, ¼ t salt and the pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are golden; about 5 minutes.
• Remove the mushrooms and set aside. Reduce the heat to low and add another tablespoon of oil to the pot.
• Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent; about 5 minutes.
• Add the water, broth, rice, and the remaining salt to the pot. Bring to a boil.
• Continue boiling for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the asparagus. Cook until tender; about 5 minutes.
• Using a hand blender or food processor, puree the soup until smooth.
• Return the soup to the pot and add the reserved mushrooms.

ASPARAGUS CHEESE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add asparagus and heat through. Add the cheese, thyme and nutmeg. Cook until cheese is melted, stirring frequently (do not boil). Garnish with croutons and additional cheese if desired.

GOAT CHEESE AND ASPARAGUS CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat and preheat the broiler.
• Drizzle the asparagus with some of the olive oil. Toss to coat and then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on the grill pan and cook until tender and grill marks form, 3 to 5 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the asparagus. Remove, let cool slightly and cut into 2- to 3-inch pieces, about the size of the bread.
• Brush the bread on both sides generously with oil and place on a baking sheet. Rub the garlic all over one side of each slice. Broil until golden and crispy, 2 minutes per side. Remove and let cool slightly.
• Slather some of the goat cheese on the garlicky side of each piece of bread, then top each with 2 to 3 pieces of the grilled asparagus and a few of the cherry tomatoes. Return to the oven just until the cheese is melted and warmed, about 2 minutes.

CHEDDAR ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat.
• Add onion and celery and cook, stirring, until tender but not browned, about 8 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low, add flour and cook, stirring frequently, until frothy, about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Blend in chicken stock and bay leaf; reduce heat to medium-low.
• Add Sherry,hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire, dry mustard, and freshly ground pepper to taste and simmer 20 minutes.
• Add asparagus and continue cooking until tender, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in cheese and parsley and cook until cheese is melted, 5 to 10 more minutes.
• Ladle soup into heated bowls and serve immediately.

FRESH ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir 4-6 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add asparagus and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 8-10 minutes or until asparagus is tender. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Transfer to a blender; cover and process until smooth., In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons flour and 1/4 cup milk until smooth; set aside. In same saucepan, heat butter over medium heat. Stir in seasonings and remaining flour until smooth; cook and stir 45-60 seconds or until light golden brown. Gradually whisk in cream, remaining milk and reserved flour mixture. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in wine, lemon juice and asparagus mixture; heat through. If desired, top each serving with chives.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• 1. Remove about one-inch bottom of stem then chop the asparagus. Rinse in a colander and allow to drain. Set aside.
• 2. Heat butter and olive oil in heavy pan over medium-high temperature. Add chopped onion and stir for one or two minutes. Reduce heat to medium, stirring for about three-minutes. Add chopped mushroom*, garlic, salt and pepper, continuing to stir for a few more minutes until onion is tender and translucent (five or six minutes total). [*NOTE: I prefer shitake mushrooms because they have a nice, beefy consistency. However, use your favorite.]
• 3. Add the asparagus, lemon juice and one-cup of the chicken stock to the pot. Reduce heat to medium-low setting. Cover pot and continue cooking about 15-minutes until asparagus is tender.
• 4. Add remainder of chicken stock and one-half cup of the heavy cream to the pot. Taste test to determine if you want to add more salt or pepper.
• 5. Insert immersion blender into mixture and mix until all ingredients are creamy-smooth texture. ADD remainder of heavy cream and stir.
• 6. Serve hot. OPTIONAL: Garnish with one or more of the following: Dash of dill weed, dash of basil, teaspoon of sour cream, drizzle of balsamic glaze.

ASPARAGUS POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan or soup kettle, combine the potatoes, asparagus, onion, celery, bouillon and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in the butter., In a bowl, combine flour, cream, milk, salt and pepper until smooth; add to the vegetable mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Garnish with bacon and cheese.

ASPARAGUS GOAT CHEESE BRUSCHETTA WITH PORCINI VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Make vinaigrette:
• Put dried mushrooms in a heatproof bowl and pour boiling water over them. Let stand 20 minutes. Pour mushrooms with liquid through a paper towel-lined sieve into a small saucepan. Transfer mushrooms to a cutting board and finely chop. Add vinegar, shallots, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and half of mushrooms to saucepan and boil mixture until it is reduced to 2/3 cup, about 10 minutes. Whisk in 1/4 cup olive oil and add salt and pepper to taste. Sauce can be served warm or at room temperature.
• Make bruschetta:
• Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in upper third.
• Stir together remaining chopped mushrooms with softened goat cheese in a small bowl.
• Place a steamer basket in a 5-quart pot filled with 2 inches of water. Steam asparagus, covered, just until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer asparagus to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking, then drain and pat dry.
• Halve asparagus crosswise.
• Arrange bread slices on a large baking sheet. Brush with some olive oil and bake until golden, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Spread goat cheese mixture generously on toasts.
• To serve, place a toast in the center of a salad plate and arrange 4 or 5 stem ends of asparagus on each. Top stems with asparagus tips, arranging them perpendicular to stems. Drizzle asparagus and surrounding plate with vinaigrette.

CREAMY GINGER-ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add shallot and ginger and cook until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add potato and 4 cups water. Season with salt and pepper and simmer until potatoes are just tender, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Add asparagus and continue to simmer until vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes more. Reserve one cup liquid from pot and transfer the rest of the mixture to a blender; let cool slightly.
• Add cilantro and spinach to blender and purée until smooth, adding reserved broth as needed for desired consistency. Return soup to pot and stir in remaining 1/4 cup oil. Season with salt and pepper and serve warm or chilled, with a drizzle of oil, more pepper, and lemon wedges on the side.