Asparagus Soup with Chimichurri
If sometimes creamed soups can feel bland, try this Asparagus Soup with Chimichurri Sauce. which adds a big herbal punch to a rich creamy soup! 
It all started a number of years back. After an evening over a hot stove, I was culinarily traumatized. By my kids.
I had made a lovely Cream of Spinach Soup with Potatoes and Leeks, a recipe I’d gotten from my high school French class. Served many times, it was (pretty much) always a hit. Even the kids had enjoyed it before.
Elegant enough for wine
But this time the kids didn’t like the (teeny) spinach shreds, so I decided I would puree it. People puree soups all the time, right?
Well, when I served up the “adapted” version, my oldest took one look, grimaced and said, “Eeuuww, cream of pond scum.” Pretty much spoiled it for the lot of them.
NOT cream of pond scum
Since then I’ve neurotically avoided pureeing anything green. I’ll cream winter squash or tomatoes in an instant, but green soups? Nuh-uh.
But this year I decided to get brave and try Cream of Asparagus soup. Asparagus is amazing, right? How could anything using it not work? But the soup was a touch bland (even using yogurt instead of cream, which gave it a nice tartness) and the “pond scrum” phrase reared its ugly head.
Add chimichurri for punch
Sooo, how could I make this so over the top that not even my kids would complain?
Perhaps a little Chimichurri Sauce?
If you aren’t familiar with it, Wikipedia defines Chimichurri as “an uncooked sauce used for grilled meat… It is made of finely chopped parsley, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano and red wine vinegar.” It was all the rage on steak a few years back, but I hadn’t seen as much of it lately.
Mmm!
I gently dotted the soup with the chimichurri to look good for the blog pictures. But by the end everyone was swirling big spoonfuls through. Even my “I like bland” husband, who first said he preferred the soup straight, converted and was fighting for the chimichurri bowl with everyone else.
Finally, a victory!
- 1 shallot or leek or small onion, chopped, about ½ c
- ½ cup chopped celery or celery root
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 3 cups broth
- 1 lb asparagus, broken up, tough ends removed
- 3 T rice (see note)
- Salt, pepper to taste
- ½ cup reduced fat Greek Yogurt (optional)
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Pinch crushed pepper
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ½ t sea salt
- In a medium saucepan, sautee chopped shallot and celery until just tender. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add broth, asparagus and rice. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 15 minutes until everything is tender.
- While soup is cooking (or before if you prefer), make the chimichurri sauce. Mix the finely chopped herbs with the oil and vinegar. Salt to taste, then let sit for flavors to blend.
- Once the asparagus and rice in the soup are tender, puree soup in a blender or using an immersion blender.
- If using yogurt, mix a little warm soup in with the yogurt to temper it until well blended. Add back to the soup and stir or whisk to combine.
- Serve warm dribbled with chimichurri sauce.
- I used a natural white rice that was tender in the 15 minute cooking time. If you go with a longer cooking brown rice, adjust the simmer time accordingly.
Herbaceous Recipes
- Asparagus Soup with Chimichurri by Art of Natural Living
- Bastounakia with Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Blue Bayou Golden Beet & Arugula Salad by Simply Inspired Meals
- Herby Salt and Vinegar Chip Fish by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Lemon Thyme Lemonade by Our Good Life
- Pesto Carbonara by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Sabzi Khordan (Fresh Herb Platter) by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Thyme Tea by Home Sweet Homestead
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I bet that chimichurri really brightens up that soup. It looks delicious.
Delicious asparagus soup and I am loving the chimichurri on it…indeed a nice touch.
I hope you are having a great week Inger!
Thanks Juliana!
Well you have given me a combination of flavors that I wouldn’t have thought about but will definitely try. That is what I like about my blogging friends…you always inspire.
I’ve never had asparagus soup or chimichurri, sounds interesting.
I love cream of pond scum! Spinach, zucchini, asparagus, cabbage – you name it! I love how you brightened it with the chimichurri! See you in a little more than a week!
David
Well I guess the pond scum comment is one of those things that makes a good story later! And I am looking forward to our visit too–see you soon!
I love that you added chimichurri to your soup. What a nice punch of flavor!
Thank goodness my “pond scum” daughter thought so too!
I love cream soups, and the idea of adding chimichurri to it sounds delicious!
Thanks April!
Funny, I just made chimichurri for a future post with steak. I’m so behind the times! this looks delicious.
I love chimichurri with steak Karen. Can’t wait for your post!
I’ve never had asparagus soup but I need to give it a try, especially with the chimichurri!
I hope you get the chance to try it!