Creamy Asparagus Soup

Spring is just around the corner, and that means fresh asparagus.  One of our local vendors has been selling asparagus for 99 cents a pound.

These were some real beauties.  It was quite a temptation not to fill my shopping cart to the brim.

I brought home 2 pounds, enough to have bacon wrapped asparagus for dinner one night and creamy asparagus soup another night.  Let's make some soup!  This recipe will make enough to feed 4 - 6 people, and takes about 30 minutes to make.   If you want to make it vegetarian it's an easy swap out with the broth.

You will need:
1 onion, chopped
2 Tabs. butter
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 pound of asparagus , (ends trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces)
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 teas dried thyme
1 cup water
1/2 teas white pepper, (or regular pepper if fine)
1 cup milk

In a dutch oven pot, melt the butter over medium heat.  Add the chopped onion and cook until it starts to wilt, (about 2 minutes).

Add the chopped garlic and cook for another minute.

Add the chicken stock   (NOTE:  if you want to make this vegetarian, just substitute vegetable stock for chicken stock).  Add 1 cup water.

Add the chopped asparagus.

Add the dried thyme and pepper, (I use white pepper, just so I don't have the black pepper flakes in my soup, but it's OK to use regular pepper).  Stir well, cover and cook until asparagus is tender, (about 15 minutes).

Remove from heat and using your immersion blender, puree until smooth.  (NOTE:  you can do this in a blender, but be very careful not to get burned, do it in small batches, then return soup back to the pot).

Your soup will be very thick and rich.

 Now add your milk.  (Note:  if you want to use canned evaporated milk, or cream for more richness you can, or you can even use skim milk to cut calories.)

Stir over low heat until thoroughly heated. Taste your soup for seasoning.  Does it need a little salt or more pepper.  And now your done!

 I like to serve a little dollop of sour cream on top, and I have some fresh homemade bread to go with my soup.

Give this a try, and let me know what you think.  It's a quick and easy soup to warm you on a cold night.

Enjoy!