Soups/Grilled Asparagus Soup with Chili Croutons
Serves: 4
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
From: http://www.bhg.com/recipe/grilled-asparagus-soup-with-chile-croutons/
Ingredients
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 - 2 tablespoons Asian chili sauce, such as Sriracha
1 small baguette, sliced diagonally
2 pounds green, white, and/or purple asparagus, trimmed
2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
2 14 1/2 ounce cans reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Olive oil (optional)
Freshly grated nutmeg and lemon juice (optional)
Directions
Step 1
Preheat grill or grill pan to medium heat. For chili butter, in a large bowl stir together melted butter and chili sauce. Brush one side of each baguette slice with some of the chili-butter. Grill bread for 2 minutes, until toasted and crisp, turning once. Set aside.
Step 2
Add asparagus to remaining chili-butter; toss to coat (butter may firm up). Grill spears on grill pan over medium heat or grill rack over direct medium heat, covered, about 2 minutes, turning once. Remove from pan or grill. Set aside one-fourth of the spears to stir into finished soup. Slice remaining spears in 1/2-inch rounds; set aside.
Step 3
For soup, in a large saucepan melt the 2 Tbsp. butter over medium heat. Cook onion in hot butter for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened. Add salt. Sprinkle flour on onions; cook and stir for 1 minute. Stir in the coriander. Slowly whisk in chicken broth. Add 1/2-inch asparagus rounds. Bring soup to simmering. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, until thickened, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly.
Step 4
Transfer cooled soup to a blender or food processor, in batches if necessary. Puree soup until smooth. Return pureed soup to saucepan. Stir in milk and heat through. Cut the reserved asparagus spears in 2-inch lengths. Add to soup along with lemon juice. Drizzle with a little olive oil. Serve with freshly grated nutmeg, additional lemon juice, and chili croutons.
