Asparagus Pesto Soup

Serves 6

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2 tablespoons olive oil, more if needed

1 medium onion, chopped

1 stalk celery with leaves 

2 cups green, such as spinach, radish greens, kale, collard greens, etc., that are able to be cooked 

1 large garlic, chopped

2 tablespoons dry white wine, optional 

1 pound fresh asparagus, fibrous ends snapped or cut off

6 cups broth of choice or 5 cups broth and 1 cup liquid from canned asparagus

1 teaspoon kosher salt 

1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

2 sprigs thyme, leaves only or 1 teaspoon dried

3 sprigs fresh dill or 2 teaspoons dried

2 tablespoons pesto 

3 14.5 ounce (411 grams) canned asparagus, whole or cut, drained, liquid reserved. 

1/2 cup milk of choice, added after soup is puréed. 

 

1. Add oil to a large, heavy soup pot. Warm over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until onion is softened, about
   4 minutes. Stir in celery and greens. Heat for about 1 minute and then add garlic. Stir.

2. Add wine. Stir.

3. Cut or snap off fibers asparagus ends o fresh asparagus. Cut spears in half or quarters and add to soup.

4. Add broth or broth and canned asparagus liquid. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.

5. Add salt, pepper, lemon juice, thyme, dill and pesto. Place lid on pot and simmer for about 30 minutes until
   vegetables (especially celery and asparagus) are tender.

6. Add canned asparagus. Stir in.

7. Remove from stove and let cool a bit. Purée soup in a blender or with immerser until velvety smooth.

8. Stir in milk of choice.

 

expandthetable suggestions

Creamier: Substitute 1/2 cup of heavy cream or half and half for milk

Cheesy: 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese sprinkled on top of each bowl served

Vegan/dairy free: Use a dairy free nut or seed milk. Almond milk is my go-to milk.

Allium free: Substitute a half bulb of fennel for the onion and 1-2 large radishes for the garlic. Sauté as in recipe.

 

#Soup  #Vegan

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Pesto Recipe 

 

This is a dairy free/vegan pesto recipe. I have noted where you can add Parmesan cheese, if you prefer, as most recipes do. I like to keep it vegan and then add the Parmesan if I want.  I freeze the pesto in ice cube trays. After frozen. place in a freezer zip lock bag and use as needed. The amount you need depends on the size of the ice cube trays—some are small and would measure 1/2 teaspoon. Other trays would have 1 tablespoon amount. Measure the first ice cube tray you fill so you will know the amount to use in a recipe. Keeps in the freezer for 8-10 months. 

 

Pesto is traditionally made with piñolis or pine nuts.  You can easily substitute pecans or walnuts for them or mix some piñolis in.  You save quite a bit of money, as they can be a bit pricey and the taste is remarkable the same.

What is pesto good with?  Let us count the ways!!!

Any pasta, spaghetti squash, hearty soup such as minestrone, tomato or mushroom sandwich melts, thin with olive oil and lemon juice for a salad dressing, spread on chicken or beef before grilling or baking, frittatas, crusty bread heated under broiler. Add to burgers when making or grilling, grilled tofu, eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, spread on pizza crust before adding rest of ingredients and many soups!

 

½ cup pecans, walnuts or piñolis

2 large cloves garlic, peeled (see tip below)

2 cups fresh basil

½ teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper 

¾ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, optional

(½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated, optional—leave out for vegan)

 

1. Add pecans, garlic, basil, salt and pepper to food processor. 

2. Drizzle olive oil into a food processor while the ingredients are processed.  

3. If you are using Parmesan cheese, add here. To keep the recipe vegan, omit the Parmesan. 

4. Add fresh lemon juice.

5. The pesto can be refrigerated for up to a week and can be frozen for 2 months. Use ice cube trays for easy defrosting later. Drizzle a little olive oil on top before freezing to prevent discoloring. 

 

Tip: Two large garlic cloves are needed. Removing the skin is simplified when you press down on the garlic with the flat side of a knife. The skin peels off and the garlic is ready to use! 

 

Vegan: Omit Parmesan cheese.

 

#Pesto

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