Cream of Asparagus Soup

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This easy Cream of Asparagus Soup with peas and leeks is a dreamy way to celebrate spring. Pair homemade asparagus soup with your favorite sandwich for the ultimate spring lunch menu.

A white bowl of Cream of Asparagus Soup.


 

You know that Spring has sprung when the asparagus starts to pop up in the produce section and at farmers markets. While it’s possible to find asparagus year round these days, in my opinion, the best of the best stars each spring.

When that glorious time of year arrives, this Cream of Asparagus Soup recipe is one of my favorite ways to put the tender stalks to terrific use. Blitzed up with leeks, peas, broth, and a splash of dairy, this light, silky soup recipe offers a spoonful of bright flavor that feels like a harbinger of warmer weather on the horizon. Best of all, the entire easy soup recipe takes just 30 minutes to prepare!

Recipe ingredients

Labeled ingredients for cream of asparagus soup.

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

Ingredient notes

  • Asparagus: Look for stalks that are firm, straight, and smooth, with tips that are fresh-looking and have closed buds. Asparagus should be a vibrant green with a slight violet hue at the tips and ends. If the asparagus is not being stored in a shallow pan of water, ice, or on a damp pad, check the ends to see if they’re not completely dried out or flaky. Avoid asparagus that looks wilted, wrinkled, or has darkened black tips that are falling off the stalk. These are all signs the asparagus is past its prime. You’ll want stalks of uniform size so they cook evenly. Trim off the thicker ends to give each stalk a fresh cut, then use a vegetable peeler or paring knife to shave down thicker stalks so they’re about the same size as any thinner ones.
  • Chicken broth: Store-bought or homemade Chicken Broth; choose your favorite. For a vegetarian Cream of Asparagus Soup, swap in vegetable broth.
  • Parmesan cheese: Or Pecorino. Just make sure that you use fresh Parmesan or Pecorino, shredded from a block, rather than the Parmesan that comes in the green can. (Although that has its place, too!)
  • Half-and-half: This is my preferred dairy for this recipe. If you like, substitute sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Cut off asparagus tips and set aside. Chop remaining spears into 1/2-inch pieces and set aside. In a small skillet or saucepan, bring ½ cup water to boil. Add asparagus tips, cover, and cook until tender, about 2 minutes. Drain well dry on paper towels.
Sauteeing asparagus tips in a skillet.
  1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, add butter and melt. Stir in chopped asparagus spears and leeks and cook until softened, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Cooking leeks and asparagus in a skillet.
  1. Add broth and bring to a simmer. Cook until vegetables are completely tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in peas and Parmesan.
Cooking leeks and asparagus in a skillet.
  1. Working in batches, process soup in blender until smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes. Return soup to saucepan. 
Blending cream of asparagus soup in a blender until smoothe.
  1. Over medium-low heat, stir in half-and-half and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Adding cream to blended cream of asparagus soup.
  1. Serve and garnish with reserved asparagus tips.
A white bowl of Cream of Asparagus Soup.

Recipe tips and variations

  • Yield: This Cream of Asparagus Soup makes about 6 cups of soup, enough for 6 (1-cup) servings (or 3 larger, 2-cup servings).
  • Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Make ahead: The soup can be made up to 3 days in advance and reheated on the stove. 
  • Freezing: Cream of Asparagus Soup is great for the freezer, and putting a batch on ice is a lovely way to savor some spring flavor after the season passes. Cool soup completely, then divide into freezer-safe containers (I love pint-sized glass mason jars). Leave 1/2-inch head space for expansion, then date, label, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
A white bowl of Cream of Asparagus Soup.

Recipe FAQs

How can I garnish this Cream of Asparagus Soup?

Definitely put those pretty asparagus tips to use! And since this soup is lusciously creamy, I like to garnish each bowl with a handful of crunchy croutons for contrast. You could also consider crumbled crispy bacon, cubes of a grilled cheese sandwich, or a small scoop of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.

Potato Leek Soup

As cozy as it is comforting, Potato Leek Soup is just the remedy for a cold, dreary day. Leeks and garlic add a subtle layer of flavor to the earthy and noble potato.

30 minutes
View Recipe

More creamy soup ideas

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A bowl of cream of aspargus soup.

Cream of Asparagus Soup

This easy Cream of Asparagus Soup with peas and leeks is a dreamy way to celebrate spring. Pair homemade asparagus soup with your favorite sandwich for the ultimate spring lunch menu.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings (1 cup each)
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Calories 102
5 from 8 votes

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Cut off asparagus tips and set aside (they will be blanched and used as a garnish). Chop remaining spears into 1/2-inch pieces.
  • In a small skillet or saucepan, bring ½ cup water to boil. Add asparagus tips, cover, and cook until tender, about 2 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside to cool.
  • In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in chopped asparagus spears and leeks and cook until softened, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Add broth and bring to a simmer. Cook until vegetables are completely tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in peas and Parmesan.
  • Working in batches, transfer to a blender and process soup until smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes. Wash out saucepan, then add back blended soup. 
  • Over medium-low heat, stir in half-and-half and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt (I like ¾ teaspoon). Garnish with reserved asparagus tips.

Notes

  1. Asparagus: Look for stalks that are firm, straight, and smooth, with tips that are fresh-looking and have closed buds. Asparagus should be a vibrant green with a slight violet hue at the tips and ends. If the asparagus is not being stored in a shallow pan of water, ice, or on a damp pad, check the ends to see if they’re not completely dried out or flaky. Avoid asparagus that looks wilted, wrinkled, or has darkened black tips that are falling off the stalk. These are all signs the asparagus is past its prime. You’ll want stalks of uniform size so they cook evenly. Trim off the thicker ends to give each stalk a fresh cut, then use a vegetable peeler or paring knife to shave down thicker stalks so they’re about the same size as any thinner ones.
  2. Chicken broth: Store-bought or homemade Chicken Broth; choose your favorite. For a vegetarian Cream of Asparagus Soup, swap in vegetable broth.
  3. Parmesan cheese: Or Pecorino. Just make sure that you use fresh Parmesan or Pecorino, shredded from a block, rather than the Parmesan that comes in the green can. (Although that has its place, too!)
  4. Half-and-half: This is my preferred dairy for this recipe. If you like, substitute sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.
  5. Yield: This Cream of Asparagus Soup makes about 6 cups of soup, enough for 6 (1-cup) servings (or 3 larger, 2-cup servings).
  6. Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  7. Make ahead: The soup can be made up to 3 days in advance and reheated on the stove. 
  8. Freezing: Cream of Asparagus Soup is great for the freezer, and putting a batch on ice is a lovely way to savor some spring flavor after the season passes. Cool soup completely, then divide into freezer-safe containers (I love pint-sized glass mason jars). Leave 1/2-inch head space for expansion, then date, label, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 102kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 6gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 541mgPotassium: 514mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1841IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 95mgIron: 4mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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Comments

  1. Wow! This was soooo delicious! I used homemade chicken stock and substituted crepe fraiche instead of sour cream. That was the only change I made. If you asparagus, you will love this soup!5 stars

  2. I don’t believe I have ever had a cream of asparagus soup before, so I am super excited to try this! Yum! Another delicious looking and sounding recipe, Meggan :)