Creamy Lemon Chicken And Asparagus Soup With Basil Recipes

CHICKEN, ASPARAGUS AND LEMON SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and fry very gently until transparent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the chicken pieces to the pan and cook over a fairly high heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring all the time.
• Add the chicken stock, lemon zest ONLY (juice will be added later) and thyme to the pan and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, blanch the asparagus in boiling water for 1-2 minutes. Remove and plunge into ice water. (Save some of the small tips for garnish if you wish).
• Add the asparagus and the basil leaves to the pan, cover and simmer 30 minutes until the asparagus is well cooked.
• Allow the mixture to cool about 15 minutes, then process in a blender or food processor until very smooth. Poor back into the pan.
• Beat the egg yolk with a little of the cream, strain into a small bowl, add a little of the soup and mix thoroughly. Add to the soup with the lemon juice and the rest of the cream. Allow to warm through gently, being careful not to let it boil.
• Serve the soup garnished with a few of the reserved asparagus tips and a sprig of fresh basil.

CREAMY CHICKEN ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Cut tips from asparagus spears and set aside, Discard stalks.
• In a dutch oven, saute onion and celery in oil. Add carrots, potatoes and parsley flakes. Stir in broth, salt and pepper . Bring to a boil. Simmer on low heat covered for 25 minutes.
• Add chicken, cream, cheese and asparagus tips. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes until asparagus is tender.
• Serve and enjoy!

ASPARAGUS SOUP WITH BASIL CREAM

Steps:

• In a small saucepan simmer reserved asparagus ends in water, covered, 15 minutes. Remove and discard asparagus ends with slotted spoon and bring water to a boil. Add reserved asparagus tips and cook, uncovered, over high heat until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer asparagus tips with slotted spoon to a colander, reserving cooking liquid, and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Drain tips well.
• In a 4-quart heavy saucepan cook onions in butter with salt and pepper to taste over moderate heat, stirring until pale golden. Add asparagus stalk pieces, broth, and reserved cooking liquid and simmer, covered, 15 minutes, or until asparagus pieces are tender.
• Basil cream
• Make basil cream while soup simmers: In a small saucepan bring cream to a boil and stir in basil and salt. Cook mixture over high heat, stirring, until basil is wilted, about 5 to 10 seconds, and in a blender purée mixture. Return basil cream to small saucepan and keep warm.
• Purée soup in cleaned blender in small batches and return to 4-quart saucepan, thinning with water if desired. Season soup with salt and pepper and heat over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
• Divide soup among 6 bowls and add asparagus tips, arranging them decoratively. Drizzle basil cream over each serving.