Purée Of Asparagus Soup Recipes

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.)

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.

PURéE OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Combine all of the ingredients for the broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Strain and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, and add the leek, onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook gently for five minutes, stirring often, until the onion and leek have softened. Add the garlic, stir together for a minute, then add the potatoes, broth, bouquet garni and salt to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Add the chopped asparagus (not the 12 spears), and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, and remove the bouquet garni.
• Puree the soup with a hand blender or, working in 1-1/2 cup batches, ladle the soup into a blender. Place a towel over the blender, and pull it down tightly to prevent splashing. Blend each batch, then (whether you pureed the soup in the pot or in a blender) put through a medium strainer, pushing it through with the bottom of your ladle or with a spatula. Return to the pot. Heat through, and add the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile, steam the 12 asparagus spears for four minutes, until just tender. Refresh with cold water, then slice about 3/4 inch thick.
• Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish each serving with a handful of sliced asparagus, sprinkle with tarragon and serve.

CREAM OF FRESH ASPARAGUS SOUP II

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine asparagus, chopped onion, and 1/2 cup chicken broth. Cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, and simmer uncovered until asparagus is tender, about 12 minutes. Process the mixture in a blender to puree the vegetables. Set aside.
• In the same saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Stir in the flour, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Whisk in the remaining chicken broth, and increase the heat to medium. Cook, stirring constantly until the mixture boils. Stir in the asparagus puree and the milk.
• Put the sour cream in a small bowl, and stir in a ladleful of the hot soup. Add the sour cream mixture and the lemon juice to the soup. Stir while heating the soup to serving temperature, but don't allow it to boil. Serve immediately.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP (CRèME D'ASPERGES)

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.

PUREE OF ASPARAGUS WITH SOBA NOODLES

Steps:

• Trim the woody ends from the asparagus, peel the bottom halves with a vegetable peeler, and cut into 1-inch lengths. Reserve and set aside the tips.
• Heat the oil in a large soup pot. Add the onion and sauté over medium heat until golden. Add the broth, celery, potatoes, seasoning, and soy sauce. Bring to a rapid simmer, then lower the heat. Cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
• Add the asparagus pieces (except for the reserved tips) and simmer for another 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Remove from the heat.
• With a slotted spoon, transfer the solid ingredients to a food processor. Puree in batches until smooth and stir back into the liquid in the soup pot. Or insert an immersion blender into the soup pot and puree until smooth. Let the soup stand off the heat while doing the finishing steps.
• Break the buckwheat noodles into 1- to- 2-inch lengths. In a separate saucepan, cook them in rapidly simmering water until al dente. Drain and rinse them briefly under cool water, then stir into the soup.
• In the same saucepan, steam the reserved asparagus tips until bright green and tender-crisp, then stir into the soup.
• Adjust the consistency of the soup with enough water to give it a slightly thick consistency. Season with freshly ground pepper and additional soy sauce, if needed. Serve at once, garnishing each serving with the almonds and scallions.
• Per serving:
• Calories: 226
• Total fat: 7g
• Protein: 10g
• Fiber: 6g
• Carbohydrate: 37g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sodium: 586mg