The Creamiest White Asparagus Soup (Spargelsuppe)
This is the creamiest German asparagus soup (Spargelsuppe) recipe! Don't wait too long to get your hands on white asparagus or it will be gone! Featured in my cookbook 'German Home Kitchen' - find it here!
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 301kcal
Ingredients
- 500 grams white asparagus or use this jarred kind instead
- 500 milliliters vegetable broth
- 30 grams butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch sugar
- 2 Tablespoons flour or cornstarch
- 100 milliliters white sparkling wine
- 1 egg yolk
- 200 milliliters heavy whipping cream
- salt, pepper, nutmeg
- ½ lemon juice only
Instructions
- Peel the asparagus, trim the ends off, and cut off the asparagus tips. Yes, you read that right! You may feel crazy doing this, but just do it. You'll reserve them for later. If you can't find fresh white asparagus, use this jarred kind instead!500 grams white asparagus
- Bring the broth to a boil, add salt and a pinch of sugar.500 milliliters vegetable broth, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 pinch sugar
- Cut the asparagus into pieces, add to the broth, and allow to gently boil for about 15 minutes. Once the asparagus is soft, remove the soup from the stove.
- Puree the soup with an immersion blender until smooth. Over medium low heat, melt the butter in a medium sized pot, then add the flour and, stirring constantly, let it turn a golden yellow color.30 grams butter, 2 Tablespoons flour
- Gradually add in the sparkling wine while stirring and then add in the soup. Bring to a boil, then add the asparagus tips and allow to gently boil for about 12 minutes.100 milliliters white sparkling wine
- Whisk together the egg yolk and ½ of the whipping cream. Whip the remaining cream until stiff.1 egg yolk, 200 milliliters heavy whipping cream
- Carefully stir both the yolk cream mixture and the whipped cream into the soup (reserving some for garnish). Season to taste with the spices and lemon juice.salt, pepper, nutmeg, ½ lemon
- Enjoy with some buttered bread and more sparkling wine!
Notes
Can't find fresh white asparagus? Use the jarred kind! This kind is actually so good, you'll love it! I know it's a lot to commit to 6 jars of it, but I love being able to use it whenever I like and it doesn't expire for a while!
What Makes White Asparagus White?
Ever wondered what makes white asparagus white? I wondered the same thing. While I grew up with the white asparagus season coming and going, nobody ever taught me the difference between white asparagus and its green counterpart. The only difference lies in the asparagus being covered with lots of mulch and dark plastic as it grows, allowing for no sunlight to reach it, and thus no photosynthesis to take place. It’s the albino version of its green brother and tastes more delicate, mild, and less bitter. One of the other differences is that it is a lot more labor-intensive, from the farming methods to the food prep methods. It requires peeling of wood-like skin of each spear before cooking. But if you haven't had it before, believe me, it’s worth it!Nutrition
Calories: 301kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 1147mg | Potassium: 352mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2204IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 3mg