Potage De Crevettes Aux Asperges Croquantes
Grrrrrgh!
Course : Vegetables
From: HungryMonster.com
Serves: 3
 

Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  20              Thin  raw asparagus spears [8 ounces] -- unpeeled
                        l/2 small potato [about 2 ounces] -- peeled, halved
  1             Medium  leek [about 5 ounces] -- trimmed of all but
  2             inches  green, washed
                        well and cut into 1-inch
  1             Medium  onion [about 3 ounces]
     1/2         Stick  unsalted butter [2 ounces]
                        Salt and freshly ground white pepper
  3               Cups  water
  1              Pinch  dried thyme
  1        Small Piece  bay leaf -- 1/4-inch square
  8             Medium  raw shrimp [about 6 ounces] -- shelled, cut into
                        quarters, and
                        seasoned with salt and pepper
                        Chopped chives or chervil -- for garnish
 

Preparation:

Cut off 2-inch pieces from the tip ends of the asparagus. Reserve. Cut off the tough stem ends and discard them. Cut the remaining stems into 1-inch pieces. Process the stem pieces, the potato, leek and onion with the metal blade of a food processor until coarsely chopped; pulse 3 times, then process continuously for 5 seconds. Scrape down the work bowl as necessary. Melt half the butter in a large saucepan and sauté the chopped vegetables, seasoned with salt and pepper, over moderate heat for about 2 minutes. (This reduces the vegetables' acidity.) Add the water, thyme and bay leaf and bring to the boil. Simmer, uncovered, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain the liquid and return it to the saucepan. Process the solids and 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid with the metal blade until smooth, about 1 minute. Whisk the puree back into the remaining liquid in the saucepan. Season with salt and pepper. Bring slowly to the boil. Add the reserved asparagus tips and boil, uncovered, for 3 1/2 minutes. Add the shrimp and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and simmer, whisking, just until the shrimp are cooked through, about 1 minute. Divide among 4 warmed shallow soup dishes and garnish with chives. Makes 3 1/2 cups I did not like potato-leek teased soups until one day, by accident, I whipped butter into the potatoes. This produced an improved flavor and refined texture. Now I make many soups with the potato-leek base used her

 

Nutritional Information:

trace Calories (kcal); trace Total Fat; (9% calories from fat); trace Protein; trace Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 7mg Sodium