Description
Creamy mary berry asparagus soup brings spring flavors to your table with elegant simplicity. Fresh ingredients and classic technique combine for a delightful starter that celebrates seasonal produce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 350 g (12.3 oz) asparagus spears
- 700 ml (23.7 fl oz) vegetable stock
- 2 large handfuls spinach
- 3 shallots, finely sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 25 g (0.9 oz) butter
- Small amount vegetable oil
- Olive oil for drizzling
- Rustic sourdough bread
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Melt butter and olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until bubbling, creating a fragrant foundation for the soup.
- Prepare Garnish: Quickly cook asparagus tips for 2-3 minutes until tender-crisp and vibrantly green, then set aside for final presentation.
- Build Flavor Profile: Introduce shallots, asparagus stalks, and garlic to the pan, sautéing for 7-8 minutes until vegetables become translucent and release their aromatic essence.
- Incorporate Liquid and Greens: Add spinach and vegetable stock, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing ingredients to meld and develop depth of flavor.
- Blend and Refine: Use a hand blender to transform the mixture into a silky-smooth puree, ensuring no textural disruptions remain.
- Season and Adjust: Carefully season with salt and black pepper, fine-tuning the taste and potentially thinning with hot water to achieve ideal consistency.
- Plate and Garnish: Pour the soup into serving bowls, crown with reserved asparagus tips, and optionally drizzle with extra virgin olive oil for an elegant finish.
- Serve Immediately: Accompany with crusty sourdough bread to complete this sophisticated, vibrant soup experience.
Notes
- Butter Blending Technique: Warm butter and olive oil together to create a flavorful base that enhances the soup’s depth and prevents burning.
- Asparagus Tip Preservation: Cook asparagus tips separately and briefly to maintain their bright green color and tender-crisp texture for a stunning garnish.
- Smooth Blending Secrets: Use a hand blender to achieve a silky-smooth consistency, ensuring no vegetable chunks disrupt the soup’s elegant texture.
- Temperature and Seasoning Mastery: Adjust soup thickness with hot water and taste carefully, seasoning gradually to develop a perfectly balanced flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: UK
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg