Asparagus cream soup with meatballs and mandarin orange fillets

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 750 g asparagus, white
• 1 liter vegetable broth
• 100 g whipped cream
• 100 g sour cream
• 2 tbsp processed cheese
• n. B. Salt and pepper, black from the mill
• 2 pinches of nutmeg, freshly grated
• 1 lime(s) (organic), some juice and zest
• 75 g herb butter, cold, diced
• 2 pieces of mandarin orange(s), seedless, alternatively from the can
• 3 tbsp tangerine juice
• 400 g tartar, lean minced beef
• 2 tbsp rapeseed oil
• 1 roll (stale, softened in hot water or hot milk)
• 1 egg(s)
• 1 small onion(s), finely diced
• 1 clove(s) garlic
• 1 tsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp ketchup
• n. B. Salt and pepper, black from the mill
• e.g. curry powder
• n. B. Paprika powder, sweet
• e.g. breadcrumbs

Instructions

Working time approx. 30 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 30 minutes; Total time approx. 1 hour

Trim and discard the woody ends of the asparagus. Peel the asparagus spears and collect the skins in a colander. Portion the spears into bite-sized diamond pieces, setting the tips aside. Peel the tangerines and cut out the segments between the skins, reserving some of the juice. Mix the minced meat with the listed ingredients, squeezed breadcrumbs, finely diced onions, squeezed garlic clove, tomato paste, ketchup, and seasonings to make a classic meatball mixture. With moistened hands, form small balls about 3 cm in diameter. Coat in breadcrumbs. Brown the meatballs in a stainless steel pot in hot rapeseed oil. Deglaze with the stock. Add the asparagus diamond pieces and hang the colander with the skins in the pot. Cover and cook gently for about 15 minutes. Then remove the colander and set aside. Stir the asparagus tips, cream, and cream cheese into the soup and reduce the soup to a simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Season to taste with spices, mandarin orange juice, lime zest, and juice. Finally, gradually add cold herb butter to the soup and whisk until light and fluffy. Place the mandarin orange segments on top of the soup. Serve with a warm onion baguette, for example.