Spa Cuisine Asparagus Soup With Roasted Shallots And Morels Food

ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Add the butter to a large saucepan over medium heat to melt. Once foaming and melted, add the shallots and garlic and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes, cook until fragrant, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir in the flour and cook until blonde and pasty. Gradually pour in the chicken broth while stirring. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. Add the asparagus and simmer until it's nice and tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the half-and-half. Remove from the heat and use a stick blender to puree the soup until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• For the soup: In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, bring the oil to medium heat. Add the shallot and salt and pepper to taste. Sweat until translucent, about 1 minute, being careful not to brown. Add the asparagus to the pot and sweat until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the peas and sweat another minute. Pour in the white wine and deglaze the pot. Add 5 cups water and continue simmering until crisp-tender, another 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Working in batches (and carefully as the liquid will be hot), puree the soup until smooth in a blender. In the last batch, add the baby spinach and puree; this will give the soup a vibrant green color. Strain back into the pot through a fine mesh sieve. Return to a simmer until slightly thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat.
• For the Parmesan breadcrumbs: While the soup simmers, pulse the bread in a food processor until you have very coarse crumbs. Once processed, transfer the breadcrumbs to a medium mixing bowl. Drizzle with a generous amount of olive oil. Toss with the thyme. Season mixture with salt and pepper. Transfer to a parchment-lined sheet tray. Using a grater, finely grate a few tablespoons of Parmesan over the breadcrumbs. Place into the oven and bake until golden and crispy, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool.
• To serve: Ladle the soup into shallow serving bowls. Sprinkle evenly with a few teaspoons of Parmesan breadcrumbs and top with a dollop of creme fraiche. Garnish with chopped chives, cilantro leaves, a squeeze of a lime wedge and a splash of extra-virgin olive oil. Serve immediately.

PAN-FRIED ASPARAGUS WITH SHALLOTS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add the shallot and cook for 1 minute then add the asparagus. Cook for 5 minutes and season with a little salt and pepper. Serve warm.

SPA CUISINE - ASPARAGUS SOUP WITH ROASTED SHALLOTS AND MORELS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the onion, garlic and 2 tablespoons of the oil and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the asparagus and cook for 5 minutes, stirring.
• Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to moderately low and cook until the asparagus are very tender, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350°.
• In a bowl, soak the morels in the hot water until softened, about 20 minutes.
• Swirl to dislodge any grit; drain and chop.
• In a pie plate, toss the morels, shallots, remaining 1/2 tablespoon of oil and a pinch each of salt and pepper.
• Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the shallots are softened and lightly browned.
• Working in batches, puree the soup in a blender.
• Return the soup to the saucepan and season with salt and pepper.
• Ladle into soup plates, garnish with the mushroom mixture and serve.
• NOTE: If you'd like to garnish the soup with asparagus tips, set aside 16 two-inch tips before cutting up the stalks. Blanch or sauté the tips separately.
• NOTE: The soup and morel garnish can be made ahead and refrigerated separately overnight. Rewarm before serving.

ASPARAGUS WITH SHALLOT BUTTER

Steps:

• Peel the asparagus, using a swivel-bladed knife, starting about 2 inches from the top. Remove the tough ends.
• Bring enough water to a boil to cover the asparagus. Add salt and the asparagus and cook 2 to 3 minutes, until crisp tender. Drain well, reserving 3 tablespoons of the liquid. Arrange on warm platter.
• Combine the shallots, lemon juice and reserved liquid in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook over high heat until half the liquid evaporates. Add butter gradually, stirring rapidly with a whisk. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring rapidly, 1 minute. Spoon the sauce over the asparagus and serve.

ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• In a 3-qt. saucepan, saute onions in butter for 4 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook until tender. Add asparagus, broth and seasonings; cover and simmer for 30 minutes. , Add rice. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

ASPARAGUS WITH MORELS AND TARRAGON

Steps:

• Cook white and green asparagus separately in a 5- to 6-quart pot of boiling salted water , uncovered, until just tender, about 5 minutes for white asparagus; about 3 minutes for green asparagus.
• Transfer asparagus with a slotted spoon to a colander and rinse under cold water (to stop cooking), then drain again. Pat dry.
• Heat 3 tablespoons butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté shallots, stirring, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add morels and sauté, stirring frequently, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add asparagus, tarragon, salt, pepper, and remaining 3 tablespoons butter and sauté, stirring, until heated through, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Serve immediately.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH BALSAMIC-SHALLOT BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine shallots, butter, vinegar, thyme salt and rind, stirring well with a whisk.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Snap off woody ends of asparagus.
• Arrange spears in a single layer on a shallow baking pan coated with cooking spray.
• Cover with foil and bake for 5 minutes.
• Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes or until asparagus is crisp tender.
• Pour butter mixture over asparagus, tossing gently to coat.
• Serve immediately.