Cream of Asparagus Soup

This Cream of Asparagus Soup recipe is made without heavy cream for a healthy twist! Vegetables, broth, coconut milk, and seasonings are cooked and puréed into a velvety smooth texture. This vegan and dairy-free version is easy-to-make for a busy weeknight dinner!

One night I was contemplating what to do with a couple pounds of fresh asparagus.

Lemon Garlic Roasted Asparagus and these Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles had already been done.

Then a memory popped up of the incredible asparagus soup I had while in Utah at a blogging conference!

While I have created both a Roasted Tomato Basil Soup and a Roasted Butternut Squash Soup recipe in the past, I had never thought to make a soup from asparagus… until that fateful dinner at the deli.

Only one problem, when recalling the flavors in the dish, I was almost certain it had heavy cream and probably a bit of Parmesan cheese in it.

So I set out to create a vegan version avoiding the dairy, and you’ll be happy to know it was a HUGE success! And just so happens to be the recipe you see below!

Ingredients

The simple ingredients you need to make this cream of asparagus soup recipe include:

• Asparagus. Two pounds of fresh asparagus are used in this recipe. Make sure you trim the ends to remove any fibrous pieces before cooking.
• Onion. A sweet onion tastes best, but a white or yellow onion will work as well.
• Garlic. Fresh garlic cloves are ideal, but garlic powder may be substituted.
• Fresh Herbs. A combination of rosemary and thyme add a herbaceous note to the flavor profile. Feel free to swap out the fresh herbs for dried herbs if that’s what you have on hand.
• Broth. Regular sodium vegetable broth makes up a large amount of the liquid.
• Coconut Milk. The secret ingredient for making a super creamy vegan dish that’s free of heavy cream and dairy! You can choose to either use full-fat coconut milk for a creamier soup or lite coconut milk for a lower-calorie recipe.

How to Make

The basic steps for making cream of asparagus soup are simple to follow. Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.

Sauté the Veggies

Place a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-heat. Start cooking the onion with oil for 3-5 minutes or until the onion becomes translucent, stirring occasionally.

Mix in the crushed garlic, salt, and pepper, and sauté for 1-2 additional minutes.

Add the remaining olive oil and asparagus pieces and continue cooking for 5 minutes.

Simmer the Soup

Pour in the broth, coconut milk, fresh herbs, and seasonings and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover with a lid and simmer for 7-10 minutes, or until the asparagus is tender.

Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice.

Make it Creamy

Purée the soup until completely smooth with any of the following tools:

• Immersion (or stick) blender: This is preferable since you can keep all of the ingredients in the pot and blend away.
• Vitamix: The second best option as you do have to transfer the soup to a different appliance. However, the Vitamix will make it SUPER smooth!
• Food processor: The biggest downside with a food processor is you have to work in batches. It still gets the job done, though.

Serving

You can serve this dish warmed OR chilled!

For a chilled version, refrigerate the soup for 3-4 hours before serving.

Garnish the soup with homemade croutons or toast and finely chopped parsley or thyme. 

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep-Ahead: The flavor of soups improve with time, so make the entire recipe and chill until ready to enjoy.
• To Store: Seal in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
• To Freeze: Once it has chilled in the refrigerator, you can freeze the soup for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe airtight container.
• To Reheat: Defrost frozen soup in the refrigerator. Warn the soup in a pot on the stove or simply pop it in the microwave.

FAQs

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Keep it in the pot. Using an immersion blender is not only less messy, but you have less of a chance of burning yourself.
• Trim the ends. Remove the tough, woody parts of the spears before cooking.
• Fresh is best. Garlic cloves and herbs have better flavor than dried spices.
• Try it cold. Let the finished soup chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours before serving.
• Work in advance. Make the soup ahead of time and simply reheat or enjoy chilled.

What to Serve with Asparagus Soup?

Much like other creamy soup recipes, this cream of asparagus soup pairs extremely well with the following:

• Homemade Croutons with Garlic Herb Butter
• Toasted Baguette with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
• Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• A side of Chopped Kale Salad

Other Creamy Soup Recipes

Creamy soups are a warm and comforting way to celebrate the Fall season. Try these recipes when soup season rolls around.

Creamy Beet Soup, Cream of Asparagus Soup, Roasted Pumpkin Soup, and Healthy Cauliflower Soup are veggie-based soups you can feel good enjoying.

Instant Pot Potato Soup, Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, and Potato Leek Soup are classics everyone will love.

More Asparagus Recipes

Put those asparagus stalks to work in these other tasty dishes:

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Lemon Garlic Roasted Asparagus

Air Fryer Asparagus

30 Minute Bruschetta Chicken

Baked Lemon Garlic Chicken