Creamy Asparagus Soup From Cooks Country Recipe 455

CREAMY ASPARAGUS SOUP FROM COOK'S COUNTRY RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steps:

• Cut tips off asparagus spears and chop stalks into 1/2-inch pieces. Melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add asparagus tips and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 2 minutes. Set aside. Add remaining butter and asparagus, leeks, 1/2 tablespoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper to empty pot and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, about 10 minutes. Add broth to pot and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in peas and Parmesan. Puree soup in blender** in 2 batches and return to pot. **NOTE: I always use an immersion blender to puree my soups right in the pot-- so much easier and less cleanup. Stir in cream, lemon juice, and asparagus tips, and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve. (Soup can be refrigerated in airtight container for 2 days.)

CREAMY ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat a large soup pot. Drizzle pot with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add fresh asparagus, onion and celery. Saute until asparagus is bright green.
• Add chicken stock and thyme. Bring to a boil and reduce to medium heat. Boil until vegetables are very tender.
• Using an immersion blender or regular blender, puree soup.
• Add yogurt and lemon juice. Heat through and serve.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

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.
• Cooks' note:.
• • Soup keeps, covered and chilled, 2 days. If making ahead, add last tablespoon butter and lemon juice after reheating.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• In a large (4-quart) saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and thyme; cook until the shallots are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the flour; cook until incorporated, stirring constantly, about 1 minute.
• Add the asparagus and 6 cups water; season generously with salt. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover, and simmer, until the asparagus is bright green and just tender, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Working in batches, purée the soup in a blender until very smooth. To prevent splattering, fill the blender only halfway, and allow heat to escape: Remove the cap from the hole in the lid, and cover the lid with a dish towel. (To freeze, see note, below.) If serving right away, stir in the cream and lemon juice.
• Freezing the Soup
• Omit the cream and lemon juice. Cool to room temperature before dividing among airtight containers (leaving 1 inch of space at top). Freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator; reheat over low heat. Stir in the cream and lemon juice before serving.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan; season with 2 teaspoons salt. Add asparagus tips and blanch until bright green and just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to an ice bath with a slotted spoon; reserve for topping. Add trimmings, 1/2 shallot and 1/2 clove garlic to the same pot and return to a boil; reduce heat and simmer the asparagus stock 20 to 25 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
• In another saucepan, heat olive oil over medium. Add sliced shallot and chopped garlic and cook until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in potato and enough of the asparagus stock to cover the vegetables (about 1 cup), and simmer until the potato is tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Strain remaining asparagus stock directly into saucepan with the potatoes. Add remaining asparagus and cook until tender and bright green, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Puree in a blender until completely smooth; remove 1 cup and reserve. Slowly stir in cream, and season to taste with salt and pepper; thin with reserved liquid as needed. Serve hot or chilled, topped with asparagus tips and a drizzle of oil.

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.

CREAMY ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• In 3-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and celery; cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in flour. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in broth. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring constantly, until thoroughly heated.
• Remove from heat. Stir in asparagus. In food processor or blender, process asparagus mixture until smooth. If necessary, asparagus mixture can be processed in batches. Return to saucepan.
• Stir in half-and-half. Cook 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and thoroughly heated.

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.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Cook onion in butter until soft.
• Add flour and cook, stirring, for 4-5 minutes.
• Gradually add stock, stirring.
• Add cream and wine and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to a simmer, add asparagus and nutmeg and cook for 15-20 minutes.
• Puree in batches in a food processor or blender.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic, and cook, stirring until tender, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Add the asparagus and sauté 4 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the asparagus is very tender, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool at least 5 minutes.
• Working in batches if necessary, carefully transfer the soup to a blender, filling it no more than halfway. Keep the lid slightly ajar and puree on high speed until smooth. Return the soup to the saucepan, stir in the sour cream and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowls, dust with the paprika and serve.