Microwave Creamy Asparagus Soup

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 lb fresh green asparagus
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 onion, finely chopped (i use vidalia sweet)
• 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon chives
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste

Recipe

• 1 cut off the tough bottom ends of the asparagus and discard.
• 2 cut off the tips of the asparagus and set into a bowl; set aside a few of them for garnishing later.
• 3 chop the stalks of the asparagus into small, bite sized pieces and add to the bowl of asparagus tips.
• 4 place butter in a heavy, deep round microwaveable dish (such as a corningware casserole) and let it melt on high for approximately 1 minute, or until melted.
• 5 add the onion and aspargus tips& spears to the butter, cover, and cook on high for about 4-5 minutes.
• 6 stir in the flour, mixing well.
• 7 next, pour in the broth and add the chives, stir, recover, and cook on high for 10 minutes, stirring 3 times during this process.
• 8 asparagus should be very tender- if not, return for 2 more minutes, stir, test again, repeat if needed.
• 9 remove from microwave (wear oven mits) and puree using a wand blender (or use your regular blender).
• 10 add cream, lemon juice, and seasonings to taste.
• 11 get the asparagus tips you set aside for the garnish and put them into the microwave, in a microwave safe dish, for just about 2 minutes or so- just enough to blanch them so they aren't so raw tasting.
• 12 ladle soup into individual bowls and garnish with an asparagus tip before serving.
• 13 note: since microwaves vary greatly, there may be some variations in the cooking times depending upon your microwave.