I remember my first taste of cream of asparagus soup like it was yesterday. Flash back to Dec. 28, 2012. My friend Alisa was hosting our annual Christmas potluck – dinner versus brunch that year – and served Giada De Laurentiis’ asparagus soup with herbed goat cheese as a starter. I volunteered to bring dessert and, as usual, chanced testing a new recipe: Heather Baird’s gingerbread bundt cake with coffee glaze.
Unfortunately, while my individual-size sweets looked elegant, they were a tad dry. But Alisa’s cream of asparagus soup was flawless – silky smooth and delicious. Looking back, I don’t know why it took nearly three years – and inspiration from a Whole Foods Market mystery basket – to recreate the bisque, or at least a version of it.
Like many puréed soups, crème d’asperges is quick and easy to make, and calls for just a handful of ingredients. Because the dish is quite light, offer it as a first course or with a sandwich.
Recipe adapted from Epicurious.
- 1 pound asparagus
- ½ onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2½ cups chicken broth
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Cut tips from 6 asparagus spears. Prepare a small bowl of ice water and set aside.
- Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil. Add asparagus tips and cook, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Transfer to the prepared ice bath to cool. Drain asparagus tips and set aside.
- Cut remaining asparagus spears into ½" pieces.
- Melt butter in a large pot. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add asparagus pieces and parsley and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
- Add chicken broth, stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 15 minutes.
- Remove soup from heat and purée. Add heavy cream and cook until heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add lemon juice and garnish each serving with asparagus tips.
I haven’t ever seen or thought of cream of asparagus but it sure does sound yummy! I might have to add it to my holiday dish list!
Enjoy, Mary! Hope you are enjoying the holidays!