How to Make the Ina Garten Asparagus Soup Recipe at Home
If you want to vary your menu and try new recipes, the Ina Garten asparagus soup recipe might be exactly what you want. Even the less enthusiastic vegetable eaters love this soup because of the unique and delicious combination of vegetables and flavors. It is a great recipe that all family members will love.
Ina Garten Asparagus Soup Recipe: How to Cook?
Here is the list of ingredients and detailed instructions for cooking it:
What Are the Ingredients?
The ingredients for this soup are the following (for 4-6 people):
- Olive oil – 2,5 tablespoons
- Butter – 2,5 tablespoons
- Fennel bulbs – 5 cups (chopped stems and cores removed)
- Chopped leeks – 3 cups (light green and white parts only)
- Garlic – 3 cloves
- Yellow onions – 2,5 cups
- Medium thick asparagus – 1 lb
- Long grain white rice – 0,5 cups
- Good chicken stock – 8 cups
- 3 thyme springs, tied with kitchen string
- Pernod or orzo – 2 tablespoons
- Julienned basil – 0,5 cups
- Yogurt or half and half – 0,5 cups
- Pepper and kosher salt – to taste
- Grated Italian Parmesan – for serving
Follow these steps to cook Ina Garten Asparagus Soup:
- First, melt the butter and olive oil in a large pot (preferably 12 inches) and mix in all the vegetables, except for asparagus. Continue to saute until the ingredients become translucent and soft.
- The next step is trimming asparagus by removing its wooden ends. After that, you can add thyme sprigs and asparagus to stock and simmer your soup for 15-20 minutes. Then, add rice and simmer it until it gets tender.
- Take a separate smaller pot, bring water in it to a boil, cook the leftover tips for 2 minutes, drain them, and then set aside.
- The next thing you should do is adding half-and-half and Pernod. After removing thyme sprigs, puree the vegetables by using a food processor or immersion blender.
- You can serve your delicious soup with reserved asparagus, half-and-half, basil, and shaved parmesan. If you are eating it as a first course, you can serve it with crusty bread as well.
Ina Garten: Brief Biography
You may wonder what makes this asparagus soup so special? The answer is its creator, Ina Garten. She is one of the most well known and beloved celebrity chefs in the United States. Ina is also the host of the show “Be My Guest” on Discovery+, a New York Times bestselling author, and the host of Barefoot Contessa on Food Network.
Ina Garten has written many bestselling cookbooks, and the most recent one was “Modern Comfort Food: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook” published in 2020.
The main reason why the recipes of Ina Garten work and are so popular is testing. All of her recipes are tested before ending up in cookbooks. Ina Garten says that she tests all of her recipes, and she does them over and over again until she is absolutely certain that it is exactly how she wants them to be. After testing her recipe, Garten gives it to her assistant to see whether she has any questions about it or not.
What Are The Benefits of Asparagus?
Asparagus is a popular vegetable that belongs to the lily family. It can be green, purple, and even white. Asparagus has many health benefits – both as an independent dish and as a soup ingredient:
- Many essential nutrients. A half a cup of cooked asparagus contains protein, fiber, fat, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, potassium, vitamin E, folate, phosphorous, riboflavin, iron, zinc, and some other essential nutrients. In addition, it is also low in calories: 0,5 cup of asparagus has no more than 20 calories, which makes it perfect for those who are on diet or trying to lose weight.
- Source of antoxidants. Antioxidants are very important because they help protect the cells of the body from the harmful effects of oxidative stress and free radicals. Asparagus (even as an ingredient in soups) is high in antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and glutathione. To promote better health, it is recommended to eat asparagus with other vegetables and fruits.
- Better digestive health. Asparagus also contains fiber that is necessary for proper digestive health. This vegetable is especially high in insoluble fiber that supports bowel movements and digestive health in general. There is also a smaller amount of soluble fiber that adds built to stool.
- Healthy pregnancy. Pregnant women need foliate to remain healthy throughout pregnancy, and asparagus provides them with 22% of their daily needs. Folate is especially important in early pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects.
- Lower blood pressure. High blood pressure is one of the major factors for stroke and heart disease. Asparagus is a great source of potassium that relaxes the walls of blood vessels and helps excrete salt through urine.
Can You Freeze Ina Garten Asparagus Soup?
Yes, this Ina Garten Asparagus Soup recipe can be frozen and kept in a freezer for up to three months. However, it is important to store it properly. The main rule is to store it in a reusable freezer-safe bag or in an airtight container. There are several options to revive the soup that was frozen. The best way is to defrost it overnight. You can also put the soup in a microwave on low heat. If you defrost your asparagus soup correctly, it will taste as great as a fresh one and you will not know the difference.
How Long Does Asparagus Soup Last?
It can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. All you need to do to refresh it is to reheat it on the stove top or in the microwave.
What To Serve With Asparagus Soup?
There are many dishes that go well with asparagus soup, including a grilled cheese sandwich, potato salad, pear salad with walnuts and gorgonzola, and others. You can also eat your soup with bread and by adding parmesan cheese and butter.
