Tiny New York Kitchen: Asparagus & Pea Soup

Screen Shot 2014-04-28 at 7.26.00 AMBy Victoria Hart Glavin of Tiny New York Kitchen 

Spring is here and asparagus is bountiful. This soup is so delicious that you’ll want to make it all year round.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 Large Trimmed Leeks (White Parts Only)
  • 2 Bunches Trimmed Asparagus
  • 4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
  • 1 Cup Diced Onions
  • 2 Tablespoons Unbleached Flour
  • 8 Cups Chicken or Vegetable Stock
  • 2 Cups Fresh or Frozen Peas
  • 2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt
  • 1 Teaspoon Chopped Fresh Thyme
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper

Split leeks in half lengthwise and rinse under cold running water to remove any grit. Cut leeks into 1/2 inch thick slices. Remove tips of asparagus and set aside. Dice asparagus stems into very small pieces. In a small-size pot blanch asparagus tips in salted water over a medium heat for 3 minutes. Drain and transfer tips to a bowl filled with ice water for 1 minute (thisstops cooking process). Drain asparagus and set aside. In a large-size pot melt butter over a medium heat. When butter starts to bubble cook leeks and onions over a low heat for 10 minutes. Sprinkle in flour over vegetables and cook for 2 minutes. Stir constantly. Add chicken or vegetable stock. Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat. Skim off any residue that rises to top. Add asparagus pieces (chopped stems and tips), peas, kosher salt, thyme and pepper. Cook on medium-low for 5 minutes. The asparagus should be tender. Transfer soup, in batches, to a food processor or blender. Process until smooth. Return pureed soup to pot and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat. Remove from heat and serve hot. Serves 8

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Victoria Hart Glavin has been cooking and writing recipes since she was a teenager. Originally from Nebraska, her appreciation for culinary technique took off when she moved to Lyon, France.

While living in France, Victoria studied French cooking from an expert Lyonnais chef. Victoria learned to love the local culture of preparing and enjoying fresh, seasonal foods. While in France, Victoria experienced the joys of shopping for local produce at the market and preparing fresh foods simply and beautifully in order to enhance the experience of the table. During her time in France, she says she “learned how to squeeze tomatoes at the local market” and “took everything in by osmosis.”

Currently, Victoria creates tasty treats in her tiny kitchen, in New York City, for all to enjoy and on weekends she explores Fairfield County where has a second home. Victoria has shared her recipes with others and now you can enjoy the Tiny New York Kitchen recipe collection, too!  Victoria is a member of Culinary Historians of New York and a member of the Association for the Study of Food and Society.