Asparagus Soup With Lemon Cream And Tarragon - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 shallots, peeled and sliced
2 bunches asparagus
1 tablespoon tarragon leaf, chopped
kosher salt
fresh black pepper, cracked
4 ounces white wine
3 cups vegetable stock
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 lemon (half of it zested to use in cream)

Preparation

Heat a heavy-based saucepan over medium-high heat, add olive oil and saute shallots until transparent.
Add asparagus (be sure to cut off bottom portion that is hard and stalky) and tarragon leaves (reserve stems for later use) and cook briefly. Season with salt and pepper.
Deglaze pan with white wine and simmer until reduced by half. Add vegetable stock and continue to cook until asparagus is completely soft. Puree tarragon stems in a blender until completely smooth. Pour through a fine strainer and recheck seasoning.
Whip cream until firm. Gently fold in lemon zest, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and chopped tarragon stems.
Pour soup into 4 warm bowls and top with a dollop of cream.