Showing posts with label asparagus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label asparagus. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Creamy Asparagus and Cauliflower Soup

soup, asparagus and cauliflower soup

As you know (or may not know) I love soup and am happy to eat it even in the spring and summer! 

I was recently introduced to a delicious asparagus soup at a friend's dinner party! I couldn't wait to get the recipe and share!

Green Asparagus Asparagus photo and picture

Monday, April 3, 2023

Spring Asparagus Soup - Instant Pot and Vegan



Do you love asparagus? 
Make this light and tasty asparagus soup to celebrate the beginning of spring while asparagus are plentiful and tender. 

Saturday, November 19, 2022

10 Vegan and Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Sides


This a traditional Tzimmis when baked melts together for a chunky delicious mix of fall flavors.

sweet potato, tzimmis, apples, prunes
The photo is before it was baked. It becomes creamy and delicious when baked.



A healthier choice for yam casserole with apricots and apples adding to the sweetness for a wonderful yam bake.

Thanksgiving yam bake, apples, Yams, vegan
Before Baking


The perfectly healthy cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving using fresh cranberries with sweet apples spiced with interesting flavors.


Thanksgiving cranberry chutney - vegan



One of my favorite salads. It's sweet and crunchy and perfect for Thanksgiving since it is best to make it the night before to give the incredible flavors a chance to mingle and the carrots a chance to relax.

Grated carrot salad with nuts and cranberries



Enjoy this rich vegan gravy over dairy free mashed potatoes. A real comfort food without the heavy fats and calories.

mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy-vegan



A simple but delicious combination of two complementary vegetables. 

roasted asparagus and roasted cherry tomatoes


Roasted vegetables are perfect for Thanksgiving because they can be served hot or at room temperature so they can be made in advance. It's all in the presentation. Make a variety of vegetables in advance and arrange on a platter. 

beautiful roasted vegetable platter



A wonderful quinoa side that is both flavorful and delicious. Your guests will keep coming back for more. 

Asian Quinoa vegetable slaw, GF

Green Bean
 Casserole

A healthier alternative to the more traditional high fat green bean casserole in a mushroom cream sauce.


Roasting is the tastiest way to cook Brussels sprouts. They are crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Even Brussels sprouts haters are swayed by this recipe.

Roasted Brussels sprouts



I have both of these appliances and love them both. They are both on sale on Amazon just click on the photo.


Sunday, April 22, 2018

Roasted Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes Side Dish


Roasted asparagus and roasted cherry tomatoes are light side dish that makes a lovely presentation and is always a hit!
Asparagus are a delicacy that are now in season, and there are many wonderful ways to enjoy them. This colorful roasted asparagus and cherry tomato side dish was a star at a recent luncheon I hosted for a few neighbors. It seems everyone appreciates lower calorie and lighter healthier options! Of course vegetables are naturally gluten free.



Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Asparagus Soup





No matter what the season, I enjoy a hot bowl of soup especially recipes like this asparagus soup that are fast, easy, seasonal and tasty. This delicious rich green soup can be whipped up in just 20 minutes from start to finish. If you like Asparagus, you'll love this flavorful soup!

It's finally spring on the East Coast and fresh asparagus are beginning to show up at local farmers markets, supermarkets, and the CSAs. I bought my first bunch of asparagus today and couldn't wait to make this simple soup that meets both gluten free and vegan standards.

I eat asparagus other ways as well. When asparagus are fresh and tender, I enjoy them raw. I eat them one by one, add them to salads or use them with dips on a crudités platter. 
Try my recipe for (link) roasted asparagus and cherry tomatoes .

However, sometimes I prefer my vegetables cooked, so I grill them or use small and medium asparagus spears to make this quick creamy soup that is light and flavorful.

Soup helps me boost the nutritional value of my meals and have yet another way to eat healthy greens!

Asparagus are a powerhouse of nutrients and help balance blood sugar


Not only are asparagus delicious, burt their health benefits are impressive.

  1.  Nutrient Dense ( lots of vitamins and minerals) 
  2.  Cancer protective antioxidants
  3.  Anti- inflammatory 
  4.  Helps balance blood sugar

In addition to being nutrient dense, asparagus contain cancer protective antioxidants,  anti-inflammatory properties, and may even help prevent cataracts. They contribute to maintaining normal blood sugar levels which make them a good choice for those with Type Two diabetes.

How to Select Asparagus

1. Look for bright green stalks
2. Look for firm stems
3. Their flowering tips should be closed and tight
4. Whether the stalk is thin, medium, or thick, the asparagus can all be very flavorful
5. Avoid stalks that are woody and may be chewy to eat.






How to Prepare Asparagus
Rinse well and then simply break off the ends that are the woody end. The woody end may appear white. The asparagus usually snap at just the right place. There is no need to even use a knife.

How to Eat Asparagus
1. Wash and eat them raw- they are delicious
2. Grill them and use as a side dish or garnish
3. Make them into a simple creamy soup

Author: Judee Algazi @ Gluten Free A-Z Blog
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4 bowls

Soup Recipe

Ingredients: 
1 large onion, sliced in half moons or sliced ( or 2 leeks, sliced)
2 large stalks celery, cleaned and sliced
1/4 cup of vegetable broth or 1 tablespoon of olive oil to sauté
1 pound of fresh asparagus, washed and woody end snapped off
6 cups of vegetable broth
2 cups water
1 clove of  garlic, cut in half
Cracked pepper to taste


Directions: 

Saute the onion and celery in olive oil spray or 1/4 cup of vegetable broth in a 4 quart soup pot until translucent. Add 4 cups of broth and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil, add the asparagus and clove of garlic then reduce heat and simmer for about 6- 8 minutes until the asparagus are tender. Add remainder of liquid only if needed. Puree in a high speed blender and serve! Cracked pepper to taste



What is your favorite way to eat asparagus? Do you eat them often? Do you grow them? 


Linked on : My Blog Carnival List and Souper Sunday at Kahakai Kitchen

My notes:
I skip adding salt because the vegetable broth can be salty

Pin It Please leave a comment so I know you stopped by. Scroll down to the end of the post and click on comments.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Lemon/Garlic Pasta with Mushrooms & Asparagus-

Mushrooms and asparagus in a creamy lemon garlic sauce make this pasta recipe absolutely heavenly. We had it for dinner the other night, and we couldn't stop raving about it. The garlic/ lemon sauce definitely makes it exceptionally tasty.




Saute Mushrooms in Butter



Actually, its not my recipe. It is the creation of Anna from Sweet Anna's blog.  I made it because I am participating in a blog party group called the "Secret Recipe Club". Each month we are assigned a blog and we must select a recipe to cook and post. 

I followed Anna's recipe but made a few gluten free and personal preference substitutions.  I used  gluten free brown rice spaghetti pasta (Anna called for penne pasta but I only had spaghetti, so I went with it).

Ingredients:
1 lb gluten free pasta (penne or rotini work well!)
3-4 tablespoons butter ( or dairy free substitute)
1 lb mushrooms, sliced thick
1 lb asparagus, cut into 1" pieces
1-2 garlic cloves, minced ( or more if you love garlic)
8 ounces of spreadable feta cheese log ( omit for dairy free)
2 tablespoons heavy cream ( or coconut cream)
salt & pepper, to taste
juice of one large lemon
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese ( optional)
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
Directions:
  • Cook the pasta, according to package directions, until al dente, drain and rinse. Save 1/4 cup of pasta water
  • While the pasta is cooking... in a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter over low heat and  saute the mushrooms until golden. Toss in the asparagus and saute until just tender. Stir in the garlic and cook for about a minute.
  • Turn off the heat and stir in the rest of the ingredients.
  • Continue to stir until smooth, adding up to 1/4 cup of the pasta water if needed until everything is nicely coated.
  • Top with more freshly grated Parmesan, chopped tomatoes, and fresh basil
Wait until you taste this pasta dish! I knew Anna's recipe looked really good, but we were in love when we took our first bite. My husband and I both said, " This is beyond good, this is amazing.

It's a recipe that everyone will love.  I know it's definitely going to be a recipe that I will make again and again. Thank you Anna.  

If you like this recipe, head over to Anna's blog. You'll really enjoy it, her pictures are beautiful and many of her recipes can easily be adapted to be gluten free with a few minor substitiutions.

Step by Step Pictures

Assemble Ingredients




Chop asparagus


Follow recipe directions and voila!


Reviewed and added: June 2026
This recipe is from my early days of blogging, before I switched from being vegetarian to vegan. Therefore it contains dairy and is higher in fat than the recipes I cook now. 

For a vegan low fat pasta dish, try my Easy Mushroom & Pepper Pasta Dish or my Eggplant Sauce for Pasta

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