When asparagus season rolls round, this is one of the first things we make. Asparagus Soup is a light and fresh soup, that is perfect for Spring. This creamy soup is low in calories and fat, but full of flavour.
Asparagus is such an underrated vegetable, and there is so much that you can do with it. We are going to be sharing more asparagus recipes, but this soup is one our our favourites.
At just 115 calories for a big bowl, this plant based soup feels much more indulgent than it actually it.
Looking for some other ways to eat asparagus? Why not try our tasty Cold Asparagus Salad, easy Asparagus Tart, quick Air Fryer Asparagus, or our simple but delicious Feta and Asparagus Frittata?
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Why you will love it
- A great way to use asparagus - If you want to make the most of asparagus season, or you have lots to use up, then this recipe is for you.
- Low calories -Less than 180 calories per portion and it's really filling too.
- Can be eaten cold too - Cold soup? Yep, you heard right. This is perfect for summer as it can be eaten chilled too.
Ingredients needed
- Asparagus - To get the perfect asparagus, look for spears that are firm and a nice bright green colour. The tips should be dry and held tightly to the stalk. Thinner asparagus spears are younger and therefore more tender.
- Shallots - Shallots add a nice bit of sweetness, but If you don't have shallots, a standard onion will work.
- Garlic - Everything tastes better with garlic in our opinion. Feel free to adjust the amount up or down to suit your own taste.
- Stock - We used a standard vegetable stock cube for convenience, however you can make your own asparagus stock - see below for details.
- Oil - To cook the vegetables in - use a good quality vegetable oil.
- Cream - To make it creamier and to add a little indulgence. You can leave this out or see below for more tips on how to make soup creamier.
A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
How to make asparagus soup - Step by step
One: Heat the oil and gently fry the shallots, garlic and asparagus until softened
Two: Pour in the stock and simmer for 10 minutes.
Three: Add the cream.
Four: Blend until smooth.
Health benefits of asparagus
A member of the lily family, asparagus is a nutrient dense vegetable and definitely one you should be trying to include in your diet more often. It is high in fibre, vitamins A, C, E and K and packed full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
Read more about the health benefits of asparagus.
There is evidence that the cultivation of asparagus dates back over 2,000 years to Greece, where they believed in its medicinal properties and that it could be used for curing tooth ache. It has been grown in England since the 16th century.
How to store asparagus
You should try to use asparagus on the day that it is bought, but if that isn't possible then we have some tips on how to keep it fresh for up to 7 days in the fridge. Take a look at this comprehensive post on How To Store Asparagus.
Asparagus stock
Whilst you could use a standard vegetable stock for this soup, why not use the stalks that are cut off the asparagus to make a stock - it's a great way to reduce food waste. Add them to a pan with other vegetable cuttings and the amount of water needed and simmer for 30 minutes.
Variations
The asparagus really is the star of the show here, so you don't want to over power it with too many other flavours. However, we add a generous amount of spinach because it makes it a super green colour.
Fresh herbs are a must in a homemade soup too and we went with chives, as they add a nice onion-y flavour.
We love to add toppings to soups, just to make them even more delicious and Parmesan and pine nuts work really in this soup. The Parmesan makes it more creamy and the pine nuts adds extra texture.
Storage
Store: You can make the soup in advance and store it in the fridge in an air tight container and it will be good for 2 days. You can also just make the stock in advance and then make the soup from fresh.
Freeze: You can freeze the soup for up to 3 months. Make sure it is cooled, and then put in a freezable container.
Defrost: Defrost it in the fridge overnight.
Reheat: You can reheat through on the hob.
Extra tips
- Try to use a stick blender to blend this asparagus soup. You could use a jug blender, but you would have to wait until it was completely cooled before blender, as the jug could explode when hot liquid is blender. Try to do it in batches in the blender.
- You could swap the chives for parsley or basil.
- A dollop of creme fraiche adds some extra creaminess to this asparagus soup.
FAQs
A few slices of buttered, warm sourdough bread always go well with asparagus soup. Why not also try our Homemade Flatbreads or Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia. Top your soup with some crunchy croutons.
If you find your asparagus soup is too stringy, even after blending it up, then you are choosing asparagus spears that are too thick. Don't choose ones that are too thin either,
Use the bend and snap method. Take one stalk of asparagus and then gently bend it to the point of breaking and it will snap off at the point where the woody tough part begins. You can carry on snapping them all, or use that as a guide and use a knife to cut them all at the same point.
If you find the soup too thin, then we have a few ways to thicken it. You can use a cornflour slurry, however that will change the colour and taste. Try cooking it for a little longer and cook of some extra water. But that would have to be done before blending.
Adding a little coconut milk can thicken it up, however, that will give it a coconut flavour. You could also blend some chickpeas into it to thicken it.
This version isn't vegan, as we have added some double cream to make it extra creamy. However, you could either leave it out or use a vegan alternative.
If you use a gluten free stock and make sure there is no cross contamination, then this is a delicious gluten free soup.
More soup recipes
If you’ve tried this creamy asparagus soup recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Asparagus soup
Ingredients
- 320 g (11 oz) Asparagus spears - woody ends trimmed and chopped into small pieces
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 4 Shallots - chopped
- 2 Garlic clove - minced
- 425 ml (1.75 cups) Vegetable stock
- 2 tablespoon (2 tablespoon) Chives - chopped
- 2 tablespoon Double (heavy) cream - (optional)
- 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon Olive oil and gently fry 4 Shallots, 2 Garlic clove and 320 g Asparagus spears until softened.
- Pour in 425 ml Vegetable stock and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add 2 tablespoon Double (heavy) cream and 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper.
- Blend until smooth.
- Serve topped with 2 tablespoon Chives.
Recipe tips
- Try to use a stick blender to blend this soup. You could use a jug blender, but you would have to wait until it was completely cooled before blender, as the jug could explode when hot liquid is blender. Try to do it in batches in the blender.
- You could swap the chives for parsley or basil.
- A dollop of creme fraiche adds some extra creaminess to this soup.
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
Emma White
Can U say I have no idea what asparagus tastes like as have never tried it but it looks amazing
Angie@Angie's Recipes
I had 500grams of white asparagus today :-)) Just simply poached them. Tomorrow I am going to get some green one. Your soup looks scrumptious and so beautifully green.
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes
I love asparagus and so happy that the season has started again in the UK. This looks like a lovely fresh soup for spring.
Sarah Bailey
I have to admit I've not tried asparagus soup before, but you make it sound delicious. x
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
You can get a whoop whoop all day long for asparagus season, Dannii! I LOOOOOVE spring produce! And I am LOVING this soup! Nothing is better than being able to shovel tasty asparagus in creamy form into your pie hole on repeat! :) Cheers, dear!
Rach @ This Italian Family
I love that soup holds so many memories for you. How precious! I'm with you on loving asparagus! We're having it alongside salmon for dinner tonight in fact! :)
Kelly
Yay for spring and asparagus! It's definitely one of my favorites too and we can't get enough lately! Grandma and mum's soups are the best and I can just imagine how tasty this is! Looks so creamy and comforting!
Rhian Westbury
I need to start making more soup as it's such a super easy recipe. I'm not keen on asparagus though, although it looks nice x
Anna @AnnaTheApple
I am on a big asparagus kick at the moment. So tasty. My grandad would quickly boil them and then give the spears to us with a little bowl of melted butter to dip in - divine!
Nancy
I love all types of soup but have to admit I've never tried asparagus soup. I think shall have to give this one a whirl!
Jo
Asparagus is definitely one of my fave veg, so a soup of it sounds great.
Julie @ Running in a Skirt
Yes please! This looks so good! I have to try it!
Rebecca Smith
I love asparagus soup and haven't had it in so long, will definitely make this
David @ Spiced
We love asparagus around here, too! Our favorite is roasting it with a bit of salt and olive oil, but I'm thinking this soup might need to make an appearance here soon. It's most def still soup season...nothing beats a nice warm lunch! Oh, and I saw that Manchester City pulled out a tie in their game yesterday. Made me think of you guys. I think I recall you saying that Dave is a soccer (football) fan? :-)
Natasha Mairs
I have been really fancying asparagus just recently as I haven't had it in ages!! will have to try this soup
Laura ~ RYG
Yup. big whoops here for asparagus! I love it and this is the very first asparagus soup I've ever seen. Exciting!
Sophie
I tried the lemon asparagus from your book the other week and even my bf liked it. I have never had it in a soup before though.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
Spring has officially sprung when asparagus rolls around! This soup looks amazing, Dannii! I've seen a lot of asparagus soups lately, so I need to try this! Love the pretty color and texture!
Gayle Key
The colour of this is lovely Dannii. I have tried to make similar before and it came out more of a grey colour. Any tips?
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I'm glad you've featured this asparagus soup Dannii, not just because it's that season again, but because it's a favourite of ours and it's not something you really see about. We get some amazing tasting asparagus in the U.K!