Ingredients
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1 medium onion, diced
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1 tablespoon unsalted butter
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24 ounces reduced-sodium chicken broth (quantity to taste) or 24 ounces chicken broth (quantity to taste)
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1 teaspoon dried thyme (or fresh thyme)
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8 ounces cream (You may want to use evaporated skim milk to cut more fat)
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salt or salt substitute
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fresh ground white pepper
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1 medium potato, peeled and diced
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1 celery rib, chopped
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1 lb fresh asparagus spear
Instructions
- Soak and rinse asparagus.
- Remove top 1 inch of each spear, discard tough lower part, and reserve middle portion of stalks.
- In a 3-quart saucepan, over medium heat, sauté onion in butter for 3 to 5 minutes or until translucent.
- Add chicken stock, asparagus tips and stems, potato, celery, thyme, and pepper.
- Cover and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes or until vegetables are soft.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
- Remove asparagus tips and set aside.
- Place half of the soup at a time in a blender container.
- Cover and blend at high speed for 20 to 30 seconds or until very smooth.
- Pass through a fine sieve and return blended soup to saucepan.
- Add reserved asparagus tips and cream (or half and half, or milk) and heat thoroughly, or refrigerate to be served cold.
- Be sure to adjust the seasoning after you add the cream (or half& half, or milk), especially if you plan to serve it cold.