Fresh Asparagus Soup
- Details
Simple and rustic, this is my go-to asparagus soup. Every spring, I bring home 2 or 3 pounds of fresh spears to make a big batch. The preparation is quick and you’ll have a hearty and healthy pot of soup on the table in under an hour. Close tending is needed to make sure the asparagus doesn’t get overcooked, but the reward is a bright and true flavor that can be complimented by many different seasonings. Our Cascade Mushroom Mix is my secret ingredient for the base, and a combination of Herbes de Provence and Meyer Lemon Paste puts it over the top. If you don’t have these seasonings on hand there are lots of other options! Read below the recipe for suggestions.
Fresh Asparagus Soup
Ingredients
- 1 small or medium onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Cascade Mushroom Mix
- 2 pounds asparagus, bottoms trimmed, cut into 1' pieces
- 4 cups vegetable broth or chicken bone broth
- 1 tablespoon Herbes de Provence
- 1 tablespoon Meyer Lemon Paste, Bay Leaf & Black Pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, sauté the onion in olive oil over medium low heat for about 3 minutes, until the onions are soft.
- Add the Cascade Mushroom Mix and stir to coat the onions. Continue cooking 1 minute more.
- Add the asparagus and increase the heat to medium. Stir gently to combine and cook until the asparagus pieces are bright green, about 3 minutes.
- Pour the broth into the Dutch oven and bring the mixture to a low boil. Add the Herbes de Provence and lemon paste. Cook until the asparagus is JUST fork tender, about 6-8 minutes. Do not over-cook!
- As soon as the soup is cool enough to handle, transfer in batches to a high speed blender and purée. To ease the splatter during transfer, I pull the asparagus out of the broth with a slotted spoon and ladle the broth.
- Return the soup to the pan and heat before serving.
Notes
I am typically a huge fan of the immersion blender but with this soup it is best to use a stronger blender to break down all the fiber in the asparagus.
Play with your food!
No Cascade Mushroom Mix? Add in fresh mushrooms when you saute the onions. Not a mushroom fan? Just leave it out!
No Herbes de Provence? Try Italian Herbs, El Greco or Orange Tarragon blend.
No Preserved Meyer Lemon Paste? Use fresh lemon juice
Want to fancy up the garnishes? Try truffle salt, Provencal salt or Fennel Pollen.
2 Comments
Leave a Comment
Chuck’s Gumbo
Down on Western Avenue, around the corner from our brick & mortar storefront, folks still talk in hushed tones about a little place called Sesto’s Cafe, and the legendary gumbo of Chuck Smith. Chicken and …
Orange Tarragon Green Beans
Here’s a fresh twist on a classic French recipe! Green beans almondine is a delicious light veggie dish, equally suited as a standalone snack or alongside a heartier meal. Our version uses Orange Tarragon and Provençal …
Smoky Roast Chicken with Voodoo White BBQ Sauce
White BBQ Sauce? Yes, really! A base of vinegar, mayonnaise and horseradish whip together for a traditional southern sauce on smoked chicken. Add our Voodoo to the mix and you’ve really got some spell-binding flavor! …
Chicken & Dumpling Casserole
If you’re looking for a not-too-guilty pleasure to enjoy on a cold winter night, look no further. This hearty dish satisfies all the comfort food cravings, and is made lighter but no less luscious with …
Crunchy Harissa Lemon Pickled Vegetables
These overnight pickled vegetables are easy to make and delicious! They are crunchy and full of flavor with the warm spice of Harissa, bright Meyer lemon paste and a hint of honey. Serve as a …
Cooking this now, but at no point in the instructions does it indicate when to add the 1 tablespoon Herbes de Provence and 1 tablespoon Meyer Lemon Paste, Bay Leaf & Black Pepper. So, I added it the last minute of cooking the onions with the Cascade Mushroom mix, then added the Chicken Bone Broth. I’m hoping it doesn’t change anything, it sure smells awesome! (I reread the recipe 4 times and couldn’t pick that out of the instructions – maybe I need new glasses? LoL)
Hi Gloria- no glasses needed on your end, it was my mistake! Thanks for pointing it out so we could correct. It was fine to add when you did, and I hope the soup turned out delicious. I added it at the “low boil” step and have added it to the recipe there. As asparagus season continues, and if you love it as I do, go ahead and try it with different seasonings and freeze some for winter. There is nothing better than pulling some of this out of the freezer when there is none fresh on the shelf. happy Cooking!