CREAMY ASPARAGUS SOUP

This creamy asparagus soup is thick, rich and full of flavor. A simple healthy recipe that’s warm and comforting, it really satisfies. Make it on stovetop or in the Instant Pot. I’ll show you how to make this easy recipe both ways!

📌 PIN CREAMY ASPARAGUS SOUP

Creamy asparagus soup is one of the easiest, tastiest soups of the season! With this in mind, it’s the perfect recipe to feed a crowd. Pair it with a fresh garden salad and a crusty loaf of artisan bread with butter.

There’s something deeply comforting about a pot of this fresh homemade soup on the stovetop. The aroma is so exciting! Garnished with a splash of cream, fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese, it’s warm, cozy and delicious.

🛒 INGREDIENTS

Although the prime harvesting months for asparagus is February through June, this veggie is now available at markets year round. Assemble this easy recipe with fresh asparagus and some basic and pantry staples.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Olive oil
• Shallot
• Garlic cloves
• Thin tender asparagus stalks (not the thick ones)
• Chicken stock
• Heavy cream
• Butter
• Sea salt
• Black pepper, freshly-ground
• Lemon juice
• OPTIONAL GARNISHES: Fresh chives and shredded Parmesan cheese.

👩🏻‍🍳 BEST INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS

Missing an ingredient for this cream of asparagus soup? Don’t put on your shoes and head to the market. Instead, head to your fridge or pantry. Check for these easy ingredient swaps.

It’s convenient and money-saving to use ingredients you already have on hand!

• FRESH ASPARAGUS: Use frozen asparagus instead.
• OLIVE OIL: This ingredient helps garlic and shallot become golden and fragrant without scorching. Sub with a neutral-tasting cooking oil (without strong flavor or aroma) like canola, sunflower, or grapeseed oil.
• SHALLOT: Replace this ingredient with sweet onion, white onion or yellow onion. In a pinch, use red onion or leeks.
• GARLIC CLOVES: This ingredient adds earthiness and bite to the asparagus soup. Use 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder instead.
• CHICKEN STOCK: Use chicken broth or vegetable stock. You can also use chicken or vegetable bouillon cubes, or granulated bouillon, with hot water. If watching salt intake, use a broth or stock that’s low in sodium.
• HEAVY CREAM: This ingredient adds richness and creaminess to the soup. Sub with sour cream or canned coconut milk. In a pinch, you can stir in bits of softened cream cheese.
• BUTTER: This ingredient adds richness and distributes flavor. It gives the soup a silky satisfying mouthfeel. The best substitute is margarine.
• LEMON JUICE: Acids are important for deeply-flavorful soups. They bring them to life. Good substitutes for lemon juice: lime juice or apple cider vinegar. The latter will give this asparagus soup an earthy rustic taste.
• OPTIONAL GARNISH – FRESH CHIVES: Use green onions or dill instead.

📖 RECIPE STEPS FOR ASPARAGUS SOUP

RECIPE PREP: Rinse asparagus. Pat dry between paper towels. Line up the stalks on a wooden board. Slice off and discard tough ends that are white or purple in color. Cut tender stems, tips and spears into 1/2-inch pieces.

Whether prepping asparagus soup on stovetop or in the Instant Pot, you can make this easy recipe in 4 simple steps. Here’s how.

STOVETOP INSTRUCTIONS

• STEP 1: Heat a Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add olive oil, chopped shallots, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt. Stir frequently until shallots are slightly caramelized. If using dried spices (like a pinch of red pepper flakes) to increase the flavor profile, add them now and sauté 1 minute.
• STEP 2: Deglaze the pot with 1/2 cup chicken stock. Let it simmer until reduced by half. We want a nice concentrated flavor!
• STEP 3: Add asparagus pieces to the pot along with 3 cups chicken stock, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil. Cover pot with a lid. Reduce heat to low. Simmer 30 minutes, or until asparagus is tender enough to puree.
• STEP 4: Transfer the soup to a powerful high-speed blender. Process until smooth and creamy. Another option is an immersion blender. But this will take more time and texture of the soup may be fibrous or pulpy. If this is the case, press puréed soup through a sieve. Stir in lemon juice and melted butter. Add salt and pepper to taste.

INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS

• STEP 1: Gather ingredients together. Chop the shallots. Press or mince the garlic. Measure out the chicken stock. Squeeze the lemon juice with a citrus press. Melt the butter. Take out a tablespoon for measuring the olive oil. Have everything close at hand, ready to go.
• STEP 2: Heat the Instant Pot using the sauté function. Add olive oil, shallot, minced garlic and a pinch of salt. Sauté, stirring frequently until mixture is lightly golden and fragrant.
• STEP 3: Pour in the chicken stock. With a wooden spoon, stir briefly to combine. Attach lid of the Instant Pot. Make sure valve is in the sealing position. Select Pressure Cook – Manual for 5 minutes. Once Instant Pot is done cooking, allow pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes. Turn valve to Venting Position to release additional pressure.
• STEP 4: Transfer the soup to a powerful high-speed blender. Process until smooth and creamy. Another option is an immersion blender. But this will take more time and the texture of the soup may be fibrous or pulpy. If this is the case, press the puréed soup through a sieve. Stir in lemon juice and melted butter. Add salt and pepper to taste.

🍵 SERVE AND GARNISH CREAMY ASPARAGUS SOUP

• Ladle soup into bowls.
• Give each serving a culinary hug with lavish drizzles of heavy cream. Along with a savory taste, it increase richness and mouthfeel.
• Sprinkle the surface with freshly-chopped herbs like chives, dill, Italian parsley, basil or thyme.
• Make creamy asparagus soup memorable by adding a crispy texture. Use shredded Parmesan cheese, croutons, or bits of cooked crispy bacon.

🤔 RECIPE FAQ

These are the most commonly-asked questions when making creamy asparagus soup, and the most helpful answers for recipe success.

MORE SOUP RECIPES

If you loved this creamy asparagus soup, you’ll also enjoy these deeply-delicious soup recipes. The rich aromas from the layered flavors will have you salivating in the kitchen with spoon in hand!

• Creamy Butternut Squash Soup
• Alphabet Soup
• Minestrone Soup
• Tomato Basil Soup
• Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Wonton Soup
• Italian Wedding Soup
• Loaded Baked Potato Soup

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Those who’ve experienced the joy of this cream of asparagus soup say it’s one of their favorite healthy recipes. I’ve gifted many with hand-written recipe cards from my kitchen. Now I’m sharing the recipe here with you!

If you savored the taste of this delicious creamy soup, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero! Share it with a friend or two.

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CREAMY ASPARAGUS SOUP 👉🏻 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

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