Creamy Asparagus Soup

Asparagus has the spring-like taste that we start to crave this time of year: its lovely color and fresh appeal are just what we need to get past the late winter blahs.

This soup is an especially tasty offering: cauliflower adds its cancer-fighting nutrition, and there is plenty of healthful garlic to ward off colds and flu. Springtime flavor and creaminess without dairy, right here:

INGREDIENTS

6 cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 cloves garlic, thickly sliced
1 cup coarsely chopped onions
1/2 teaspoon dill seeds
Sea salt to taste
2 cups bites-sized cauliflower florets
1 cup coarsely chopped celery
4 cups asparagus cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons dried basil
2 tablespoons dried thyme
1 bay leaf

1. In a teakettle or small pot, bring water to a boil.

2. In a large soup pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add garlic, onions, dill seeds, and salt and saute, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, until onions begin to soften and ingredients are fragrant.

3. Add cauliflower and celery and continue to saute 5 minutes more, until celery is bright green and cauliflower has begun to soften.

4. Add boiling water to pot along with asparagus, basil, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring ingredients to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer soup 10 minutes, or until cauliflower is tender. Remove and discard bay leaf.

5. Puree soup in batches in blender or with a hand-held immersion blender, until smooth.

6. Return to pot and heat through. Serve piping hot.

Serves 4 to 6.

Read more: Food, All recipes, Soups & Salads

Inspired by Going Wild in the Kitchen, by Leslie Cerier (Square One Publishers, 2005).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Rosalind R.

6:41AM PDT on Apr 8, 2011

I just bought some asparagus yesterday...it's one of my favorite veggies....great by itself as a side, in salads, or in a soup.
Even the tough ends can be boiled for a soup base, so as not to be wasted.

send a green star

Gordana R.

10:15PM PDT on Apr 6, 2011

worth to try

Penny C.

8:43PM PDT on Apr 6, 2011

Asparagus is another good veggie in the fight against cancer and so tasty too.Thank you for the recipe.

Tanik T.

5:08PM PST on Feb 4, 2010

I like asparagus, thanks for the recipe..

NO EMAILS P.

12:21AM PST on Feb 4, 2010

thankyou for great recipe

Sandra W.

1:34PM PST on Feb 3, 2010

Sounds yummy!

Lilith G.

11:03AM PST on Feb 3, 2010

Thanks for the info.

Lim Y.

12:13AM PST on Jan 26, 2010

i like asparagus soup!thx!!:D

Past Member .

11:26PM PST on Jan 4, 2010

Brilliant timing for me – over here our asparagus season is full-on. I really like the simplicity of this recipe, and just happen to have a bunch of asparagus in the fridge.

Thank you so much for sharing this.

aloe vera