Fresh Cream Of Asparagus Soup From The Farm Best Recipes

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds medium asparagus (2 bunches), cut in half crosswise
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 medium Spanish onion, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 7 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 parsley sprigs
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon dry white vermouth

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Fill a medium bowl with salted ice water. Working in 2 batches, add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook until just tender, about 4 minutes per batch. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the asparagus to the bowl of ice water. Drain. Reserve 7 1/2 cups of the cooking liquid.
• Thinly slice 18 of the asparagus tips on the diagonal and reserve for a garnishing the soup. Chop the remaining asparagus spears into small pieces.
• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and carrots and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 12 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 2 minutes more.
• Pour in the reserved asparagus cooking liquid and bring to a boil while whisking constantly. Tie the parsley, thyme, and bay leaf together with a piece of kitchen twine and add to the soup. Lower the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the chopped asparagus and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• Remove and discard the herb bundle. Working in batches, transfer the asparagus mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Using a sieve over a large bowl, strain the asparagus soup. Return the puree to the pot and reheat over medium heat.
• Whisk the heavy cream, vermouth, and salt into the soup and season with pepper. Divide among warm soup bowls, sprinkle each soup with the reserved asparagus tips, and serve immediately.