A Deliciously Tasty White Asparagus Soup Recipe
You’re likely familiar with the normal green asparagus, but most people aren’t as aware of white asparagus, and when they see it, they immediately notice its strange, pale appearance.
If you aren’t already aware of white asparagus, you likely don’t know the joy of white asparagus soup, which is a delicacy in some areas of the world. So, how can you make white asparagus soup at home? Read on to discover how to make the best use of white asparagus.
What is White Asparagus?
White asparagus is a common food in Germany. In fact, “weißer spargel” is celebrated with festivals from April to June in Germany. Germans actually have a word for this time, “Spargelzeit,” which means “asparagus season.” They refer to the plant as “white gold,” showing how luxurious it is.
While green asparagus is more plentiful, white asparagus is a labor-intensive plant, and it has a short growing season, so it is more expensive than regular asparagus. In the United States, it is often a couple of dollars more expensive per pound than its counterpart.
Both white and green asparagus have the same growing process, with one exception. White asparagus is picked before the stalks come through the soil; therefore, they never develop chlorophyll. The chlorophyll is what makes the green asparagus have its green color.
The different growing does result in a different taste. While green asparagus is bold and grassy, white asparagus is much more subtle. It has a slight sweetness with bitter undertones, making for a delicate but satisfying flavor. With proper cooking, such as in white asparagus soup, you can bring out the flavors of white asparagus.
What Makes White Asparagus Soup So Good?
This pureed soup is essentially made with broth, cream, and white asparagus, so it uses simple ingredients while packing in a lot of rich flavors that are sure to give you an exciting and gourmet culinary experience. While the soup is pureed, you set aside the heads of the asparagus and add them in the last few minutes, and these heads add a beautiful flourish to the soup, and they add texture to an otherwise smooth dish.
A Delectable White Asparagus Soup Recipe
White asparagus soup, sometimes known as Spargelsuppe, is a creamy soup that’s sure to be a treat in the late spring and early summer months. The following recipe will take about 60 minutes total to make. It will serve about 6 people, but you can easily double or otherwise adjust the recipe to serve more people if needed. This is a great appetizer, but it can be a good main course served with a hearty bread or salad as well.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds white asparagus
- 8 cups vegetable broth
- ¾ cups half-and-half
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 1 sweet onion, chopped coarsely
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- Fresh parsley, for garnish, chopped finely (optional)
Instructions
- Start by peeling and cutting the white asparagus. You will want to save the heads of the asparagus and set them aside for the end. The rest of the asparagus should be cut into 2-inch pieces.
- Heat the butter in a large saucepan on medium heat. When the butter is heated, add the onion and cook for around 5 minutes or until the onion is translucent and soft.
- Add the asparagus pieces (not the heads), and over the saucepan. Turn the heat down to medium-low heat and let the asparagus steam for 5-7 minutes.
- The asparagus should be starting to get tender, but it’s okay that it’s not entirely cooked at this point. Add the broth and bring it to a boil. You’ll want to cook it for about 40 minutes, and the asparagus should be tender after this time. At this time, you can remove the soup from the heat.
- Using an immersion blender or stand blender, you should blend the soup in batches. You’ll want to be very careful in this process because the soup can splatter and burn. If you are using a stand blender, put a towel over the lid when you hold it down so that you don’t get soup everywhere or burn yourself. Blend the soup until smooth.
- Return the soup to the saucepan, and bring it to a simmer. When the soup is simmering, you can add the tips of the asparagus.
- Cook the asparagus for about 10 minutes. You’ll want to ensure the asparagus is tender.
- Turn to low heat, and add the half-and-half, white wine, and salt and pepper. Make sure the soup doesn’t boil.
- Sprinkle parsley on the top for garnish.
- Serve and enjoy your tasty soup.
How to Get White Asparagus
If you’re in Germany, this ingredient is easy to find because it is so popular. However, in the United States, it may be harder to find. You can get it fresh at markets and sometimes stores, but there are not high quantities of growers. You can also find this ingredient on the internet, but it will often come in jars or cans. While fresh white asparagus is best, you can make do with whatever you can get your hands on.
Can I Make Substitutions?
When you’re making a recipe, sometimes the ingredients won’t work well for you. Fortunately, there are many swaps you can make. These swaps do slightly change the taste, but they do so without compromising the recipe overall.
For example, most broths or stocks can work well in this recipe. I’ve tried this with chicken broth, and it turned out just as good, even though I prefer vegetable broth in general. I have also used heavy whipping cream instead of half-and-half, which made for a richer soup.
Additionally, if you don’t want to use wine, adding some rice or white wine vinegar are good choices. Lime or lemon juice can also work. However, you won’t want to use a full 1:1 ratio. I like to use less than half vinegar or lime/lemon juice and then mix in water for the rest of the amount needed.
You may be tempted to swap white asparagus for green asparagus. You can make this recipe with green asparagus, but the look and taste will be markedly different if you make these changes. You’ll get a tasty soup, but it certainly won’t have the same gourmet appearance and nuanced flavors you’d find with white asparagus.
Is White Asparagus Soup Good For You?
White asparagus soup is quite good for you, and the nutrition of white asparagus is similar to the nutrition of green asparagus. However, white asparagus has double the vitamin C, while it only has half the amount of vitamin A. Regardless, it is a good fit in a well-balanced diet. Plus, soup is known for being satiating, so this soup is a great way to get nutrients into your body while still feeling excited about your meal.
