My favorite recipes using asparagus.
Asparagus Soup Adapted from The Green Thumb Cookbook
2 lbs asparagus
3 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp white or wheat flour
3 Cups nonfat milk
Cut asparagus into 2 inch pieces. Cook in boiling water until tender. Set tips aside. Puree remaining asparagus with as much cooking water as needed to blend in a blender. Melt butter in saucepan. Add flour to make roux. Add milk and cook till thickened. Add Asparagus puree. Cook 5 minutes. Salt to taste. Serve. We like to serve this in homemade bread bowls.
Chicken Pot Pie I got this recipe from the Las Vegas Review Journal sometime between 1990 and 1997. I adapted it to our tastes (left out the wine).
1 cup carrots, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced (optional) I use one cup potatoes, diced
1 lb fresh asparagus, cleaned, trimmed and cut into pieces
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp sage
1/8 tsp pepper
1 14-oz. can (1 1/2 cups) chicken broth (I use the broth from boiling the chicken)
1/2 cup milk
3 cups cooked chicken, diced (I remove all the fat before boiling, so the broth is fat free)
1/3 cup slivered almonds
Prepare a top and bottom pie crust shell for a deep dish 10" pan. Cook carrots, onions, and potatoes with a little water in a large pan about 7 minuter or till slightly tender. Add mushrooms and asparagus and cook about 5 minutes more or until just tender. Pour into strainer; drain well; set aside. In same pan melt butter. Stir in flour, thyme, salt, sage, and pepper. Add chicken broth and milk. Cook until thickened. Stir in vegetables, chicken, and almonds. Pour into pie shell and cover with remaining shell. Flute edge and cut slits in top for steam to escape. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
NOTE: The carrots, potatoes, onion, thyme, and sage come from my garden. I dry the herbs. The vegetables can stay in the garden covered all winter and harvested as needed.
NOTE: Beef Pot Pie - I make this recipe in the winter and substitute the asparagus for a cup or more of frozen peas that came from my garden. I substitute the chicken and chicken broth for beef and beef broth. I leave out the almonds.
