#SaturdayNightCook Asparagus + Coconut Soup

For this week’s #SaturdayNightCook I’ll be making this simple and super seasonal asparagus and coconut soup. Cook along with me at 6pm on 16th May if you can, or call your friends and cook with them, or sit down to a video dinner party. If you end up making it then please use #SaturdayNightCook and I’ll share your pics.

This is a recipe that puts asparagus at the centre. The greens add a little minerally depth and the coconut milk some gentle creaminess. I love using coconut milk in soups – it adds silkiness without having to use dairy or cream and the coconut flavour is subtle when mixed with vegetables. This soup comes together in a very short time, so it’s a great spring staple at our house.

It works really well with other green veg too as the seasons change: peas, broccoli or courgettes. I have suggested my favourite ways to top and adapt it below.

SERVES 4
2 tablespoons butter or coconut oil
1 leek, finely chopped
500g asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1.5cm pieces
a small bunch of basil, leaves picked, stalks finely chopped
400g spinach or greens
1 x 400ml tin of coconut milk 500ml vegetable stock
1 lemon

Put a large deep pan over a medium–high heat, add the butter and leek and cook for 10 minutes, stirring, until the leeks are soft and sweet.

Next add the asparagus, the basil stalks and the greens and allow to cook for a minute or two, then add the coconut milk and stock and simmer until the asparagus is tender – this should take about 4–5 minutes.

Add the basil leaves and blitz in a blender or in the pan with a stick blender, until the soup is completely silky smooth. Squeeze in the juice of the lemon.

Next make any adjustments to the soup. Add more water if the soup is too thick, a pinch of salt if needed or more lemon. Once it is tasting great, ladle it into bowls and top with one of the suggestions below.

Topping ideas:

Toasted coconut flakes and a drizzle of olive oil
Little basil leaves and a little tinned coconut milk
Some pan-crisped white beans and lime zest
Some chopped mint, lemon zest and yoghurt
Grated hard-boiled egg and some spring herbs
Lots of toasted sesame seeds and some pan-fried tofu

IMAGE: Ana Cuba

Five more asparagus recipes I love:

Asparagus salad with breadcrumbs and yoghurt

Asparagus polonaise

One-pan pea, lemon, and asparagus pasta

Asparagus with crispy seeded bread and buttermilk dressing

Asparagus mimosa salad