Three Onion Asparagus Soup Recipes

FRESH ASPARAGUS, ONION, POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Asparagus -- First cut off about 14 tips - not to long. These will be lightly cooked in the microwave for about 30 seconds, just to lightly blanch or to soften them up. They are just a garnish. Rough chop the remaining asparagus. They are going in the food processor, so no need to chop them too fine.
• Soup Base -- To the food processor, add the diced asparagus (not the reserved tips), the onion, garlic, potatoes and a little of the broth, just to allow it to puree. Continue pulsing until smooth or the consistency you like best.
• Cook -- To a medium size soup pot, add 1/2 the butter and melt on medium heat. Add the vegetables and cook on medium to medium low and slowly cook the vegetables. They will take about 15 minutes until cooked through.
• Sauce -- As the vegetables cook, add the remaining butter to a small measuring cup and melt in the microwave (just 10 seconds or so). Remove from the microwave and add the flour and sherry and stir well. Pour this mixture into the vegetables, along with the broth and mix to combine. Bring to medium heat until the soup begins to thicken. Slowly whisk in the cream. You can add as much cream as you like. Some make like a more creamy texture and other less. So start slow and add 1 cup cream and a time until it reaches the consistency you like. Check for salt and pepper seasoning, and add the dill. Cook another 5 minutes until heated through.
• Asparagus Tips -- Wrap the tips in a damp paper towel and cook for 20-30 seconds in the microwave on medium high until they are slightly tender.
• Serve -- Top each bowl of soup with a couple of the asparagus tips and a little of the monterey jack cheese. You can also add bacon bits or a toasted baguette, or even bagel chips. Anything you want.
• Enjoy!

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.

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.

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.

THREE LITTLE ASPARAGUS SOUPS FOR SPRING

Steps:

• Peel 4 asparagus stalks and slice the remainder crosswise into 1-inch pieces. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and add the sliced asparagus and 2 of the peeled stalks. Saute 5 minutes or until soft.
• Add chicken broth, bring to a boil and add half-and-half. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the 2 stalks. Continue to simmer for 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
• Pour the soup through a coarse sieve set over a large bowl, pressing the asparagus through with the back of a large spoon. Scrape the pulp into the soup, whisk and refrigerate 1/3 of it.
• Cut the 2 cooked asparagus stalks into 1/4-inch dice. Set aside. Slice the 2 raw asparagus stalks into 1 1/2- by- 1/8-inch julienne. Set aside.
• For a risotto quenelle garnish, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and saute the onion until soft, about 10 minutes. Add the rice and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the water, 1/3 cup at a time, adding more as water is absorbed, cooking risotto about 10 minutes in all. Add the diced asparagus and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until rice is al dente. Spread risotto on a plate to cool.
• Place the flour, egg and bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Shape the rice into quenelles (small footballs) with 2 teaspoons, lightly roll in the flour, then the egg, then the bread crumbs.
• Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a small pot to 375 degrees and fry the risotto quenelles until brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels.
• To serve, remove the cold soup from the refrigerator and remove any solidified butter to larger portion of soup. Heat the unrefrigerated soup till hot and pour into 12 small bowls, adding the reserved asparagus strands to 6 and the quenelles to 6. Pour the cold soup into 6 small bowls, adding the chopped raw salmon to each. Serve each diner with 3 different soups.

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 SOUP

Steps:

• 1. Melt the butter in the oil in a pot over medium-low heat. Add the onions and garlic; cook until tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Add the broth; heat to boiling.
• 2. Trim woody ends off the asparagus. Reserve the tips, then cut the stalks into 1-inch pieces; add to broth. Add the carrots, parsley, tarragon, salt, pepper and cayenne to broth. Simmer, partially covered, until the vegetables are tender, about 45 to 50 minutes.
• 3. Puree in batches in a blender or a food processor, then strain soup back into the pot.
• 4. Before serving, add the asparagus tips and simmer over medium-low heat until the tips are tender and soup is hot, about 10 minutes.
• 5. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, if desired, and a sprinkling of diced tomato.

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.

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.

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.