Curried Asparagus Vichyssoise Recipes

ASPARAGUS VICHYSSOISE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks, celery and onion. Reduce heat and cover. DO NOT ALLOW THE VEGETABLES TO COLOR. Sweat the vegetables until they are translucent. Add the potatoes and the stock. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and continue to simmer lightly until the potatoes are very soft. Add the asparagus and cook only until the asparagus is tender. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Using a blender, puree until smooth. Chill.
• Before serving remove from the refrigerator and stir in cream. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with reserved cooked asparagus tips.

ANTHONY BOURDAIN'S LES HALLES VICHYSSOISE

Steps:

• I a large, heavy bottom pot, melt butter over medium-low heat. Once butter is melted, add the leeks and sweat for 5 minutes, making sure they do not take on any color.
• Add potatoes and cook for a minute or two, stirring a few times.
• Stir in the chicken broth and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to a simmer. Cook on low heat, gently simmering for 35 minutes, or until the leeks and potatoes are very soft. Allow to cool for a few minutes.
• Slowly, and in SMALL batches, puree the soup at a high speed in the blender. Do this bit by bit, never filling the blender too high. Make sure the benders lid is on, and lean on the top when you turn on. If not the burn you will get is awful, and a most frequent accident in even professional kitchens.
• Return soup to the cooking pot and whisk in cream and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper. Return to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook 5 minutes. If you want to thin soup out, add more broth, if needed.
• Transfer soup to the mixing bowl an chill over the ice bath, stirring occasionally. When soup is at Room temperature, and only at room temperature, cover in plastic wrap and put into the refrigerator to cool.
• Check seasoning, sprinkle with chives and serve in chilled bowls.
• This soup DOES get better over time. Keep covered with plastic, not foil in the refrigerator, or it will pick up other tastes.

ASPARAGUS VICHYSSOISE

Steps:

• Put butter or oil in a large, deep saucepan and turn heat to medium. When butter melts or oil is hot, add vegetables. If you like, set aside 12 or 16 of the nicest pieces of asparagus; parboil in salted water for about 2 minutes and use as a garnish for the soup. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add stock and cook until vegetables are very tender, about 15 minutes. You may prepare soup in advance up to this point. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
• Purée soup in batches until very smooth. Chill. (Though vichyssoise is served cool, this soup could also be served warm.) Stir in cream, if using, taste and adjust seasoning, garnish if you like, and serve.

CURRIED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat 1 inch salted water in medium pot, bring to boil.
• Add asparagus and onion.
• Heat to boiling; reduce heat.
• Simmer uncovered 3 minutes.
• Cover and simmer about 4 minutes longer or until tender-crisp; drain.
• Set aside.
• Heat sour cream and curry powder in same saucepan, stirring constantly,until warm;fold into asparagus.
• Sprinkle with peanuts.

CURRIED SPRING ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Remove and discard woody ends from asparagus stalks;scrape spears with a vegetable peeler.
• Cut off tips and reserve.
• Dice stalks and combine with stock in a 4- quart saucepan.
• Bring to a boil and cook, uncovered, 8 to 10 minutes, or until very tender.
• Cool, then puree in a blender or food processor; set aside.
• Melt butter over low heat in large heavy saucepan.
• Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in puree and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Add asparagus tips; cover and simmer 8 to 10 minutes or until tips are tender.
• While soup is simmering, combine yolks,curry, and cream and miz thoroughly with a whisk.
• Add to soup and heat through but do not let boil.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper; serve hot.