Saturday, February 13, 2016

First of the Season Asparagus Soup Garnished with Shredded Hard Boiled Egg


This morning started off like most. A long walk to the mountain preserve, errands and then off to the farmer’s market. List in hand I made my way to Mcclendon’s Select. Saturday mornings are always packed and this week was no exception. My husband and I fanned out looking for the items we came for. In my search for leeks my eyes landed on bunches of fresh organic asparagus. It seemed a little early for the season but we do live in the desert. The planned menu was now officially out the door. We were now having soup.

In this recipe the asparagus is tossed into boiling water and cooked about 4 minutes, removed and then placed into an ice bath. The water is saved and reserved for the soup “stock". Leeks, onions, shallots and garlic are cooked slowly together until very soft, “stock" is added back in, simmered, then asparagus is added and cooked another 5 minutes. I used my immersion blender to puree the soup and then served in small bowls with ½ shredded hard boiled egg and topped with a few minced tips. The freshness and the color of the asparagus shone through and we both loved this soup.

This recipe has been slightly adapted from; "Around My French Table", by Dorie Greenspan.

4 to 5 servings

Ingredients:

Soup:

2 pounds asparagus (trimmed)(save a couple of tips to mince for garnish later)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 medium leeks, white and light green parts only (sliced into small ribbons)
½ large onions (sliced thinly)
1 small shallot (minced)
1 clove garlic (minced)
6 to 7 cups asparagus water
Salt and Pepper

Garnish:

2 to 3 hard-boiled eggs (figure ½ egg per bowl of soup)
2 to 3 asparagus tips (minced)

To prepare:

Bring about 8 cups of water to a boil. Add asparagus and boil for 4 minutes. In the meantime, prepare an ice bath. Remove asparagus and place in bath. Save 6 to 7 cups of the asparagus water and set aside in a separate bowl, this will be your broth.


In the same soup pot over medium heat, add olive oil and butter. Then add leeks, onions and shallots, season with salt and pepper and stir until everything has been coated. Cover the pot and simmer about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. (You want heat low enough to have mixture soft in texture but have no color). Add in garlic; stirring constantly about one minute. Remove the cover, add asparagus water and simmer another 10 minutes. Toss in the asparagus and cook another 5 minutes uncovered.

Next puree soup, if you use a blender you will want to do this step in batches or use an immersion blender. I used the later and loved the little bits left here and there.

To serve:

Add ½ shredded egg to each bowl, scoop in soup, place asparagus tips on top for garnish. Enjoy.





Cheri Savory Spoon
Cheri Savory Spoon

Mysavoryspoon was first started in 2010 as a way to journal recipes that I had collected from cookbooks, magazines, family and friends. Most everything was savory, using legumes and whole grains. Along the way I discovered a love for baking. Now a couple times a month you might see some type of sweet pie or treat.

58 comments:

  1. I love asparagus but I have never made asparagus soup! I will have to correct that very soon! I'm yumming :)
    Thanks so much for sharing
    Julie
    Gourmet Getaways

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  2. Lucky you already having green asparagus available at this time of year. The soup looks super fresh and tasty!

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    1. Hi Angie, yes we are lucky, I don't remember last year's crop being quite so early but then again time goes by so fast.

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  3. Looks like a lovely soup. Love your touch of egg. I have never made asparagus soup either. I love Farmer's markets. Happy Valentine's Day.

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    1. Hi Linda, when we travel I try and visit the local markets, we have discovered somer great ones that way. Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!

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  4. Wow!! This soup looks lovely. Warm and yummy :)

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  5. Love the vibrant green color of your soup…it had to be delicious.

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    1. Thanks Karen, we very much enjoyed it. Appreciate you stopping by.

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  6. Asparagus is one of my favorite veggies, but I've never made a soup with it! It sounds great–and looks so nice and creamy!

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  7. I love asparagus soup - and using the cooking water is a great idea of Dorie's. Yours looks so beautiful!

    I love this season in the desert... strawberries have started coming in!

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    1. Hi David, there were no strawberries at our market this week-end, you are so lucky!!! will check again next. Can't wait to see what you do with yours. Take care, C

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  8. Love your soup. I can't even imagine living in a place where locally-grown asparagus in February is possible!

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    1. Hi Beth, it still seems strange, but Mcclendon's Select is one of the organic farmers here and his produce is legendary.

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  9. Hi Cheri, what a lovely soup, and I really enjoyed reading the technique. Sounds and looks delicious!

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    1. Thanks Peggy, yes, love the way that Dorie cooks, well thought out.

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  10. Your soup is so vibrant Cheri and lucky you to have a decent farmers market where you live 😀

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    1. Hi Tandy, yes I do feel very lucky, especially this particular farmer. His stuff his wonderful.

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  11. I love asparagus soup. Actually, I love asparagus anything!

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    1. Thanks Dannii, I do too, so glad we are able to buy it fresh now.

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  12. This soup looks so warm and delightful ♥

    summerdaisy.net

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  13. I can't wait for asparagus! I see more in the store but the price is still too high. And can't wait to see how our garden of asparagus does this year. Love this soup Cheri - thank you! Enjoy your week.

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    1. Hi Tricia, I heard it takes a year or two to get asparagus growing, can't wait to see how your garden does either.

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  14. I look forward to asparagus almost more than berries in the spring -- it's my favorite vegetable! This soup looks absolutely delicious!

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  15. I look forward to asparagus almost more than berries in the spring -- it's my favorite vegetable! This soup looks absolutely delicious!

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  16. I love that you kept this soup so clean and delicious, Cheri. I've never thought to add hard-boiled eggs! What a great idea. Your pic is great!!

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  17. Hard to believe that asparagus is already out, it's snowing right now in NYC. Your lovely and delicious soup is a reminder that Spring is right around the corner,

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    1. Hi Suzanne, yes, heard you guys are getting some crazy weather, it is supposed to reach the high eighties today.

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  18. Thank you for sharing this recipe. Looks so healthy and delicious :-)

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  19. I would certainly love a bowl of this soup right now! We can actually get Thai asparagus all year around so I do not have to wait to try your recipe.

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    1. Hi Bam, never heard of Thai asparagus will look it up, sounds delicious.

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  20. This soup looks lovely. We LOVE asparagus! I always enjoy asparagus season.

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  21. Hi Cheri,
    I love asparagus but have yet to try them as soup. Yum! Looks really yummy!

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  22. Is it asparagus season already? I haven't seen any at my Farmer's Market yet...
    The soup looks gorgeous btw!

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    1. Thanks Mike, yes, this saturday was the first time at the farmers market.

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  23. Look at the lush green color of this absolutely divine and comfy soup. I so wish I could have this cozy bowl for dinner tonight.

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    1. Thanks Anu, hope you have a chance to try this. Take care!

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  24. First of the season asparagus! Always a good sign that spring is almost here!

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  25. Looks delicious love to try it.

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  26. This is a perfect spring soup! I just found white asparagus at a very good price. Can't wait to try them! It will still be awhile before our farmer's markets our open. Lucky you!

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    1. Hi Abbe, we are very fortunate but it is already warming up here, yesterday was in the eighties.

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  27. Sounds like a beautiful day, Cheri. Wow, early asparagus. Delightful. I love the step in the soup where you make a stock from the vegetable first. Well done!

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    1. Thanks Dena, that step totally makes this soup, no chicken or veggie broth.

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  28. that looks AMAZING. I love asparagus soup!

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