Description
Hearty Mary Berry asparagus soup brings springtime freshness to your table. Silky smooth and elegantly crafted, this classic British recipe delivers rich, garden-fresh flavors you’ll savor with each comforting spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 700 milliliters (23.7 fluid ounces) vegetable stock
- 350 grams (12.3 ounces) asparagus spears
- 2 large handfuls spinach
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 3 shallots, finely sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 25 grams (0.9 ounces) butter
- A little vegetable oil
Optional Serving Suggestions:
- Olive oil for drizzling
- Rustic sourdough bread
Instructions
- Prepare a large saucepan and warm the butter and olive oil over medium heat until the mixture begins to bubble and foam, creating a fragrant cooking base.
- Delicately place the asparagus tips into the simmering butter-oil blend, gently cooking for 2-3 minutes until they become slightly tender but retain a vibrant green color. Transfer the cooked tips to a separate plate and reserve for garnishing.
- In the same saucepan, introduce finely chopped shallots, chopped asparagus stalks, and minced garlic, sautéing for 7-8 minutes until the vegetables soften and release their aromatic essence while maintaining a bright appearance.
- Add fresh spinach leaves to the vegetable mixture, then pour in the vegetable stock, allowing the ingredients to meld together and bring the liquid to a gentle boil.
- Utilize a hand blender to thoroughly puree the soup, transforming the ingredients into a smooth, velvety consistency with no visible chunks.
- Season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper, tasting and adjusting the flavors as needed. If the soup appears too thick, gradually incorporate hot water to achieve the desired texture.
- Ladle the soup into serving bowls, artfully arranging the reserved asparagus tips on top as a garnish, and optionally drizzle with a light stream of extra virgin olive oil.
- Serve immediately alongside crusty sourdough bread for a complete and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Spring brings out the most tender and flavorful asparagus, making this soup a seasonal highlight.
- Transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-worthy dish with minimal cooking skills required.
- Creamy texture comes from a professional chef’s technique of gently blending ingredients to silky perfection.
- Budget-friendly recipe that impresses guests without hours of complicated preparation.
- Nutritional powerhouse delivering green vegetables in a delightfully smooth and comforting format.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: UK
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 103
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 10mg