Ina Garten’s Dreamy Cream Of Asparagus Soup Recipe: Farm-Fresh Magic

Silky smooth and bursting with spring flavors, this Ina Garten cream of asparagus soup recipe captures the essence of seasonal comfort.

Green spears of asparagus dance through a velvety base, creating a luxurious experience for every spoonful.

The recipe balances delicate herbs with rich cream, promising an elegant starter or light meal.

Fresh ingredients blend seamlessly, turning simple produce into a restaurant-worthy dish.

Professional chefs and home cooks alike will appreciate the nuanced technique behind this soup.

Each carefully crafted bite delivers depth and sophistication that feels both familiar and extraordinary.

Grab your soup pot and get ready to savor a truly memorable culinary creation.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Calories: 250 kcal

Servings: 6

What You’ll Need for Ina Garten Cream of Asparagus Soup

• Asparagus: Fresh, bright green spears that form the heart of the soup, packed with nutrients and a delicate, grassy flavor. Choose firm, straight stalks with tightly closed tips.
• Onion: Provides a sweet, mellow base that enhances the soup's depth and complexity. Look for firm, heavy onions without soft spots.
• Celery: Adds a subtle herbal note and crisp texture to the soup's foundation. Select stalks that are bright green and free from wilting.
• Carrot: Brings a gentle sweetness and vibrant color to the soup's base. Choose firm, smooth carrots with bright orange color.

• Parsley, Thyme, Bay Leaf: Create a classic bouquet garni that infuses the soup with aromatic herbal notes. Fresh herbs provide the most intense flavor.
• Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Essential for balancing and elevating the soup's overall taste profile. Freshly ground black pepper offers the most robust flavor.

• Butter: Provides a rich, smooth base for sautéing vegetables and adding luxurious depth. Use unsalted butter for best control of seasoning.
• Flour: Helps thicken the soup and create a silky, velvety texture. All-purpose flour works perfectly for this purpose.
• Heavy Cream: Adds luxurious richness and creates a luscious, smooth mouthfeel. Look for high-quality, fresh cream.
• White Vermouth: Introduces a subtle complexity and bright note to the soup's flavor profile. Choose a dry vermouth for best results.

Tools for Making Ina Garten Cream of Asparagus Soup

• Large pot: Essential for boiling water and cooking soup base.
• Slotted spoon: Perfect for transferring asparagus without excess water.
• Knife: Needed for chopping asparagus and cutting tips diagonally.
• Cutting board: Provides stable surface for chopping vegetables.
• Blender: Critical for creating smooth, creamy soup texture.
• Sieve: Ensures extra-smooth soup by straining puree.
• Kitchen thread: Used for tying bouquet garni herbs together.
• Large bowl: Useful for straining soup and holding ingredients.
• Measuring cups: Helps accurately measure asparagus liquid and ingredients.

How to Cook Ina Garten Cream of Asparagus Soup

Green Asparagus Delight

• Water Preparation Warm a large pot of water seasoned with salt, creating a perfect bath for the fresh asparagus. Set up a cold water station nearby with ice to halt cooking.
• Asparagus Blanching Quickly immerse asparagus in boiling water, cooking until tender and vibrant green. Immediately transfer to the ice bath to preserve color and texture. Carefully remove and drain.
• Vegetable Foundation Gently sauté onions, celery, and carrots in butter until they become soft and translucent, releasing their sweet aromatics and creating a rich base for the soup.
• Liquid Magic Sprinkle flour into the vegetable mixture, stirring continuously to develop a smooth foundation. Slowly incorporate the reserved asparagus cooking liquid, whisking to prevent lumps.
• Herbal Infusion Drop in a bundle of fresh herbs to impart delicate flavor. Allow the soup to simmer gently, letting the herbs dance and mingle with the vegetables.
• Smooth Transformation Blend the soup until silky smooth, then strain to ensure an elegant, velvety consistency. The goal is a luxurious texture that glides across the palate.
• Finishing Touches Stir in cream and a splash of white vermouth, seasoning with salt and pepper. The final touch transforms the soup from simple to spectacular.
• Elegant Presentation Ladle the soup into beautiful bowls, crowning each with delicate asparagus tips as a gorgeous green garnish.

Flavor Options for Ina Garten Cream of Asparagus Soup

• Quick Sautéing Technique

Enhance the soup’s depth by gently caramelizing onions, celery, and carrots until they develop a light golden color and release their natural sweetness.

• Creamy Texture Hack

Use a high-powered blender and strain the soup through a fine-mesh sieve to achieve an ultra-silky, restaurant-quality consistency without any fibrous bits.

• Alternative Liquor Options

Experiment with dry white wines like Sauvignon Blanc or replace vermouth with dry sherry to introduce unique flavor profiles that complement the asparagus’s delicate taste.

• Creative Variations

Substitute asparagus with seasonal green vegetables like spring peas, zucchini, or fresh green beans to create exciting variations while maintaining the soup’s elegant character.

• Elevating Presentation

Top the soup with crispy pancetta bits, fresh herbs, toasted sliced almonds, or a drizzle of herb-infused olive oil to add textural contrast and visual appeal.

Serve Ina Garten Cream of Asparagus Soup Smooth and Hot

• Elegant Dinner Party Centerpiece: Elevate your soup presentation by serving in white porcelain bowls with a delicate gold rim, creating a sophisticated visual appeal that highlights the soup's vibrant green color.
• Garnish with Gourmet Flair: Top each bowl with crispy prosciutto chips, freshly chopped chives, and a light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to add texture, color, and a layer of complex flavor profile.
• Perfectly Paired Accompaniments: Serve alongside crusty french baguette slices or homemade herb-infused croutons, allowing guests to dip and enjoy additional crunch that complements the smooth, creamy soup texture.
• Temperature Matters: Serve the soup immediately after reheating, ensuring it remains warm and maintains its silky consistency, which allows the delicate asparagus flavors to shine through with each luxurious spoonful.

Store and Reheat Ina Garten Cream of Asparagus Soup

• Plan Ahead for Freshness: Prepare this soup up to 3 days in advance, storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain its vibrant flavor and creamy texture.
• Freeze with Confidence: Safely store the soup (without cream) in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months, leaving space for expansion and ensuring a quick meal option later.
• Revive Chilled Soup Perfectly: Gently reheat the soup over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching and restore its original silky consistency. Add a splash of fresh cream if needed to refresh the texture.
• Garnish Just Before Serving: Keep reserved asparagus tips separate until serving time to maintain their crisp texture and bright green color, ensuring each bowl looks as delicious as it tastes.

Silky Asparagus Soup Recipe

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4.9 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s cream of asparagus soup blends fresh asparagus with rich cream for a luxurious spring starter. Silky smooth textures and delicate herbal notes promise a comforting meal you’ll savor to the last spoonful.

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Ingredients

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• 2 lbs (907 g) asparagus, medium, cut in half crosswise (2 bunches)
• 1 Spanish onion, medium, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 6 tbsps unsalted butter
• 7 tbsps all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
• 1 tbsp dry white vermouth
• 1 tbsp kosher salt (for boiling asparagus)
• 1 tsp kosher salt (for seasoning)
• 3 sprigs parsley
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Black pepper, freshly ground, to taste

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Establish a large pot with salted water and create an ice bath to maintain asparagus’s emerald hue and crisp structure.
2. Blanching: Immerse asparagus in boiling water for 4 minutes, then rapidly transfer to ice water to cease cooking. Drain completely and pat dry.
3. Vegetable Preparation: Reserve 18 asparagus tips for garnish, slicing diagonally. Mince remaining spears into precise, uniform fragments.
4. Sautéing Foundation: In a capacious pot, melt butter over medium flame. Incorporate diced onion, celery, and carrot, covering and cooking for 12 minutes until vegetables soften and become translucent.
5. Roux Development: Dust flour over vegetable mixture, stirring continuously for 2 minutes to construct a thickening base and develop complex flavor profiles.
6. Liquid Integration: Slowly introduce reserved asparagus cooking liquid, whisking methodically to prevent clumping and ensure a velvety smooth consistency.
7. Herbal Infusion: Create a bouquet garni by bundling parsley, thyme, and bay leaf with kitchen twine. Submerge herb package into liquid, simmering for 10 minutes to extract delicate aromatic essences.
8. Soup Construction: Fold chopped asparagus into the pot, bringing to a gentle boil. Remove from heat and allow brief cooling to prevent scorching.
9. Refinement Process: Discard bouquet garni. Puree soup in batches using blender, achieving silken texture. Strain through fine-mesh sieve to eliminate potential fibers.
10. Final Seasoning: Return soup to pot, reheating over medium temperature. Gently incorporate heavy cream, white vermouth, and remaining seasonings. Adjust with freshly ground black pepper to elevate flavor complexity.
11. Presentation: Elegantly ladle soup into serving vessels, crowning each portion with reserved diagonal asparagus tips for a visually stunning culinary experience.

Notes

• Blanching Technique: Master the 4-minute blanching process to preserve asparagus’s bright green color and prevent overcooking, which can lead to mushy texture.
• Roux Mastery: Carefully cook flour with vegetables for 2 minutes to develop a deep, nutty flavor and create a smooth, thickened soup base without lumps.
• Herb Infusion Secret: Use a bouquet garni to extract maximum flavor from herbs, allowing them to steep gently without overpowering the delicate asparagus taste.
• Silky Smooth Finish: Strain the pureed soup through a fine-mesh sieve to ensure an ultra-creamy, fiber-free consistency that showcases the soup’s elegant texture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 55 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 400 mg
• Fat: 17 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 22 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg