How to Make Rachael Ray’s Cream of Asparagus Soup Recipe at Home
Rachel Ray is one of the most popular and beloved television chefs around. She’s been on TV for many years, creating some of the most beloved dishes for many Foodies globally. One of her most famous recipes that people far and wide like to recreate is her cream of asparagus soup. This elegant yet straightforward soup is ideal for dinner parties, a cold winter night, or anytime a warm bowl of a flavorful soup sounds inviting. Here is your chance to make this tasty recipe and share it with people who love the hearty flavors of asparagus and the silky texture of the creamy soup.
Rachael Ray Cream of Asparagus Soup Recipe
Rachael Ray is one of the most popular chefs on television today. She has been featured on the Rachael Ray Show for many years, which airs on the Food Network channel. Ray quickly catapulted into the spotlight by her finding a unique take on many classic dishes. She has amassed a large following, and many individuals love her complex yet delicious recipes. Rachael Ray’s cream of asparagus soup is one of her dance favorites and is the perfect recipe to try during the cold weather months. This recipe is a medium-level task, and it’s best to ensure you have your ingredients prepared and ready to go before cooking the soup. If you have an issue with any of the ingredients, you may omit them or replace them with other ingredients as substitutions.
What Ingredients Will You Need?
This asparagus soup incorporates a fresh element—peas! This brings a thick, rich element to the recipe and breaks up the textures to make it more appealing and full of flavors. Pair this soup with your favorite grilled sandwich for an excellent lunch, dinner, or late-night snack. Here is what you need to make this popular soup.
- 1 Fennel bulb chopped into pieces
- 1 lb of asparagus sliced on the bias
- 1 cup of fava beans, shelled
- 8 slices of rustic bread
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 2 cups of fresh peas
- 2 leeks cut into halves with both white and green portions
- 4 cloves of chopped garlic
- 1 quart of veggie or chicken stock
- 4 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons of crème Fraiche or sour cream
- Thin sliced Cornichons
- 8 Gruyère or Swiss cheese slices
- 8 slices of Camembert or ripe Brie cheese
- 3/4 lb of mild ham
- 1 lemon for juice
- 1 cup of parsley and mint combined
- Softened butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Making the Soup
This recipe ideally serves four people. To get started, you’ll add the olive oil to a large pot and turn it on to medium heat. Once you’ve prepared the fennel, asparagus, and leeks, you can add them to the pot until they become softened. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper, and then continue to cook the vegetables while partially covered. This process can take approximately 10 minutes. Continue to stir so the vegetables won’t char. The goal is to have a soft vegetable that blends well with the other ingredients and highlights the flavors without adding any char flavors.
Add the stock liquid and the beans and peas to the soup and allow it to simmer for a few minutes until they are heated. Take half of the soup and purée it in a blender or food processor and then add it back to the pot. This process makes it rich and creamy and distributes the flavors of the beans and peas throughout the dish. Blending this mixture replaces the need for cream or dairy and is ideal for those who are trying to reduce dairy intake.
More Information
Once the vegetables are softened, you’ll want to heat a separate cast iron griddle or a pan on medium heat. This pan is used to toast the sliced bread. Add the butter to one side and continue to cook. While the bread is cooking, you want to combine the fresh cream and Dijon mustard and spread it across the opposite side of the bread. Place the cornichons and the Dijon cream on top of the bread while it’s toasting. If you aren’t a fan of Dijon mustard, you may substitute your favorite honey mustard or brown mustard.
Add your ham to the slices with the Dijon blend. Pair it with the Gruyère or Swiss. Melt the cheese and then top the slices with Camembert or Brie to add more flavor. Remove from the heat when the cheese is melted, and the bread slices are golden brown. The finishing touch is adding some lemon juice to the soup to brighten it up and add some acidity. Lemon juice works well with peas to add more flavor. Top the soup with your herbs and serve with the grilled ham and cheese sandwiches.
Substitutions
This recipe is delicious as is. However, some people may not like some of the ingredients. You may substitute some of the required ingredients for others you may favor. For example, you can omit herbs if you don’t like them. If you aren’t a fan of some of the cheeses on the list, you can use a substitution. When it comes to vegetables, however, asparagus and peas are crucial. If you wish to substitute some ingredients, try to keep the main components to accurately represent this unique recipe. The sandwiches for the soup recipe are completely optional. Most people prefer to add a sandwich to soup dishes, but you can make the soup without it.
This recipe should take about an hour to complete and can be frozen if you don’t plan to eat the soup within a few days. It will keep in the refrigerator for about five days. Try to prepare this dish for a gathering or for a family meal that will impress.
Considerations
You’ll want to use the freshest ingredients when you prepare a soup dish. Use fresh veggies and consider the ingredients’ quality when you’re shopping—the better the ingredients, the better the outcome. If you plan to have a dinner for more than four, you should consider doubling the recipe as it is for only four people. When it comes to sandwiches, if you don’t want to serve ham and cheese, you can consider other sandwich options that would pair well with a soup dish. However, ham and French cheese tend to work well with this vegetable-based dish and highlight the delicate balance of flavors and textures. Overall, this healthy and delicious dish is easy to prepare and should be a great new addition to your soup recipe collection and enjoy it anytime you want an exceptional soup.
