Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 14 cup chopped shallot
  • 2 lbs asparagus, woody stems removed, cut into 1-inch lengths
  • 8 ounces fresh spinach, well rinsed, stemmed, and coarsely chopped
  • 13 cup uncooked long-grain rice
  • 4 cups canned low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • salt
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 12 cup mascarpone, at room temperature

Method

  • Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes.
  • Add the asparagus, spinach, and rice and stir well.
  • Add the broth and bring to a boil over high heat.
  • Decrease the heat to med-low and cover.
  • Simmer until the asparagus and rice are very tender, about 20 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice.
  • In batches, puree in a blender, making sure that the lid is ajar.
  • Transfer to a soup tureen and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Ladle into bowls and top each serving with a dollop of mascarpone; serve hot.