What makes this grilled asparagus soup recipe so great is the combination of flavors and textures. And when it’s put together carefully, with the lightly browned grilled aparagus tips and sun dried tomatoes lying on top of the creamy asparagus soup, it looks fantastic!
This asparagus soup recipe requires a bit of work, but the results are well worth the effort. The soup is topped with your own homemade toasted bread cubes, but you could use good quality croutons instead, making the job of soupmaking a little easier.
Asparagus Soup Recipe
This recipe also includes chopped leeks, which add to the rich flavor.
- 6 cups chicken broth or stock
- 2 cups cubed French bread, 1 inch cubes
- Spray cooking oil
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil
- 2 cups leeks, medium chop
- 2 cloves of garlic, fine chop
- 2 large, or 4 small bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 pound asparagus spears
- salt and pepper
- 1 cup cubed, peeled potato
- 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes, medium chop
Place the bread cubes on a baking sheet, spray all sides with oil and season with the parmesan cheese. Bake in a 400 degree oven until lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
Saute the leeks and garlic in olive oil until the begin to soften. Sprinkle on 1/2 teaspoon of salt, which speeds up the softening process. Add the bay leaves and thyme, and continue sauteing for another minute to release their flavor. In a stock pot, combine the sauted leeks and garlic with the chicken stock. Add the cubed potatoes.
Trim the nicest looking tips from the grilled asparagus. You’ll use these to garnish the soup. Chop the rest of the grilled asparagus into 1 inch lengths and add to the chicken stock. Bring the stock to a simmer, and continue simmering for 15 minutes, or until the potato is tender.
Remove the bay leaves from the soup, and puree the soup using an immersion blender. You can use a regular blender, but use caution, and blend in small batches. Boiling hot soup splattered from a blender can be painful! Once the soup is blended, taste and add a bit of salt if necessary.