Christine's simple party soups - cream-topped asparagus, red pepper and broccoli # French Fridays with Dorie

This week the Doristas were scheduled to cook "Christine's simple party soups" for French Fridays with Dorie.. To be more specific we were scheduled to cook three simple soups... asparagus, red pepper and broccoli and top them each with a flavored cream.. Because they are so easy to make I made all three simultaneously and sampled them in my 'cutting-chai' glasses.....

Cutting-chai glasses ? Well they are little glasses in which tea is served in the roadside tea stalls, known as dhaba, in India. These glasses hold 1/4 to 1/2 a cup of chai and according to my husband, are perfect for the likes of me who love the idea of chai more than its flavor. At my request my father-in-law sent a set of these inexpensive glasses from India with my sister-in-law and I thought these little glasses were perfect for sampling all three soups at a go...

O.k. now about the soups... Attracted by the pretty picture alongside the recipe, I had tried the broccoli and asparagus soup before. The ease of preparation and the simplicity of the flavors made me like them instantly. Just simmer broccoli/asparagas and zucchini in water seasoned with chicken or vegetable bouillon cubes, salt and pepper until the vegetables are cooked, puree the mixture and serve with a topping of flavored whipped cream. Husband too had liked the soups, so I often make them whenever the respective vegetables are in season. And every time I garnish the broccoli soup with curry powder and the asparagus soup with dill and mustard. We enjoy them that way... 

As for the red pepper soup, I tried it for the first time last week. Unlike the other two, I only had to simmer chopped red pepper in seasoned water for this one and then puree the mixture. We both liked it with a garnish of crushed red pepper, though we thought that a roasted tomato and perhaps a clove or two of roasted garlic would make the soup more interesting.. Anyway on the whole it was nice and I'll probably make it with or without the adjustments again.

Visit French Fridays with Dorie to know what the other members thought about the soups.

You can the recipe here . For Dorie's original recipe and more such delicious ones order your copies of Around the French Table from Amazon or from The Book Depository and join us as we cook our way through the book.