Asparagus Soup With Mint Recipe 55

PUREED ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan combine the asparagus, shallot, potatoes, vegetable broth, mint and lemon zest.
• Bring them to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer until the potatoes are tender enough to puree, about 20 minutes.
• Puree the soup with an immersion blender, or in a food processor.
• If using a food processor, transfer the soup back to the saucepan.
• Heat the soup to warm it through.
• Season with salt and pepper and garnish each serving with a sprinkle of chives and scallion greens.

ASPARAGUS SOUP WITH LEMON AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Do not brown; reduce the heat if necessary.
• In the meantime, cut the tips off of one bunch of the asparagus and set aside (you'll use those for a garnish). Cut the remaining spears and the other bunch of asparagus into ½-inch pieces.
• Add the chopped asparagus to the pot (minus the reserved tips), along with the chicken broth, 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover and turn the heat down to low. Simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are very tender.
• Meanwhile, bring a small pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the reserved asparagus tips for a few minutes, or until tender-crisp. Drain the tips and then place them in a bowl of ice water to "shock" them -- this stops the cooking process and preserves their bright green color. Once the tips are cool, drain them and set aside.
• Purée the soup with an immersion blender until completely smooth. (Alternatively, use a standard blender to purée the soup in batches, then return the soup to the pot.) Bring the soup back to a simmer and stir in the lemon juice and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. To thicken the soup, allow it to simmer, uncovered, until the desired consistency is reached.
• Ladle the soup into bowls, then top each bowl with asparagus tips, Parmigiano-Reggiano, herbs (if using), and freshly ground black pepper.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: You can freeze the soup for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator for 12 hours and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until hot. (The soup will freeze best if you add the cheese when reheating.)

ASPARAGUS, LEMON, AND MINT SOUP

Steps:

• Cut tips from 6 asparagus spears, about 1 1/2 inches from the top; reserve for garnish later. Chop the remaining asparagus into chunks.
• Heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat; cook and stir shallot in the hot oil until softened, about 3 minutes. Add chopped asparagus; season with mint, salt, and pepper. Cook until asparagus are slightly tender, about 3 minutes.
• Pour chicken stock into asparagus mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until asparagus are tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Stir in lemon zest.
• Blend soup using a hand blender or a food processor until smooth.
• Bring a small pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook asparagus tips in the boiling water until just turning bright green, about 2 minutes. Strain asparagus tips and run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Garnish soup with asparagus tips and hard-boiled egg.

LEMON ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• In med saucepan, saute onion and celery in butter until tender.
• Dissolve cornstarch in water.
• Add cornstarch mixture and bouillon cubes to saucepan.
• Bring to boil over med heat; cook and stir 2 minute.
• Add asparagus and reduce heat.
• Simmer, covered, until asparagus is crisp-tender, approx 3-4 minute.
• Add milk and spices.
• Cover and simmer 25 min, stirring occasionally.

CREAMY ASPARAGUS SOUP IN MINI TEACUPS

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the asparagus, celery and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Add the vegetable stock and bay leaf and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the cream and simmer for another 10 minutes. Remove and throw away the bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add the spinach to the soup and let wilt for about 1 minute. In batches, pour the soup into a blender and blend on high until smooth. (Alternatively, use an immersion blender and puree in the pot.) Stir well before transferring to 12 small teacups and serve hot.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Saute 1 chopped onion, 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon fresh thyme in 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium-high heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add 2 pounds asparagus (trimmed and chopped), 1 1/2 cups each water and chicken broth and a big pinch of salt. Simmer until tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Working in batches, puree in a blender. Return to the pot, whisk in 1/2 cup crème fraiche and warm through (do not boil). Season with salt and pepper. Top with more creme fraiche and chopped chives.

ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON AND MINT

Steps:

• In large pot of boiling salted water, cook asparagus 3 to 5 minutes, until crisp-tender. Drain in colander; dry on paper towel.
• In serving bowl, combine olive oil, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Add hot aspargus. Toss mixture to bring to room temperature.
• Just before serving, stir in mint and lemon juice.
• Serve at room temperature.

30-MINUTE PEA AND ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Pour the stock into a 2 qt/2 L pot and set on the stove over high heat. (If you work quickly, cover the pot to boil even quicker.) Rinse the green onions, trim and chop them roughly, add them to the stock with the frozen peas, and bring to a boil.
• Rinse the asparagus spears, remove the tips and set aside. Roughly chop the stems (you can use the whole stem as it's all going to be pureed) and add them to the saucepan with a pinch of salt. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer 10-15 minutes, or until asparagus is tender.
• Meanwhile, snip the bacon slices directly into a hot frying pan and fry until crisp and golden. Transfer these to a plate and set aside for garnish.
• If there is not enough bacon fat left in the pan for frying, add 1-2 tablespoons of oil and heat. Cut the bread into small dice and fry for 2-3 minutes over high heat, turning frequently, until golden, then set aside to drain on kitchen paper (paper towel) for garnish.
• When the peas and asparagus are done, blend or process the soup to a puree. You can use a hand blender to blend the soup right in the pot. Just be sure to keep it pointing down and keep the entire head of the blender under the surface of the soup (to avoid spraying yourself with hot green liquid!).
• Add the reserved asparagus tips to the pea soup and simmer for 5 minutes, or until tender.
• Pour the soup into warmed serving bowls. Swirl a little whipped cream into each (we set a round of goat cheese on the surface of the soup, so it melted in a bit) and sprinkle with the crispy bacon pieces, croutons, and some freshly ground black pepper to serve.