Asparagus "en petit pois"
As the name suggests, this historic recipe (see below for more details) treats asparagus like peas, Napoleonic French style: first cooked the usual way, then cut small (to look like peas), cooked again in stock, and finished with a cream and egg yolk sauce.
41 K 3.7/5 (7 reviews)
45 min.
Easy
4 people
9 IngredientsLast modified on: May 2nd 2021
For 4 people, you will need:
- 1
3 ½ cups Asparagus - 2
2 tablespoons butter - 3
½ cup vegetable stock - 4
½ cup liquid cream - 5
2 egg yolks - 6
2 pinches grated nutmeg - 7
chives - 8
salt - 9
pepper
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 35 min.
Cooking: 15 min.
All in all: 45 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 20 min.
Prepare and cook 3 ½ cups Asparagus in a large pan of salted water until barely tender, but still slightly firm. Do not overcook.
If they are too long, cut them in half.
If they are too long, cut them in half.
Stage 2 - 5 min.
Drain, cool under running cold water, then drain again.
Stage 3 - 5 min.
Cut the asparagus into small pieces the size of peas (obviously).
Stage 4
Prepare all the asparagus like this, transferring the cut pieces onto a cloth to dry.
Stage 5 - 3 min.
Put a large saucepan on medium heat and melt 2 tablespoons butter.
When hot, add the asparagus, salt, pepper and mix well.
When hot, add the asparagus, salt, pepper and mix well.
Stage 6 - 4 min.
Add ½ cup vegetable stock and leave to simmer until the stock had almost completely evaporated.
Stage 7 - 1 min.
Add i½ cup liquid cream and 2 egg yolks. Mix well.
Stage 8 - 4 min.
Leave on low heat to thicken gently.
Stage 9
Serve in small individual dishes.
Remarks
You can use chicken stock instead of the vegetable stock.
This recipe takes its inspiration from Jean-Claude Brisville's play "Le Souper " (The Supper), which shows a supper – possibly imagined – shared by Fouché (Napoleon's chief of police) and Talleyrand (Napoleon's crafty chief diplomat) on the eve of the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in 1815.
Talleyrand is hosting in sumptuous style, his personal cook Antonin Carème is in the kitchen, and among the dishes on the menu is "Asperges en petits pois", for which he gives Fouché the recipe, saying it comes from a certain Monsieur de Cussy (Chief Steward of the imperial household under Napoleon, then under Louis XVIII).
It's a terrific historical drama (you can watch an extract here and test your French!), which was later made into an excellent film.
This recipe takes its inspiration from Jean-Claude Brisville's play "Le Souper " (The Supper), which shows a supper – possibly imagined – shared by Fouché (Napoleon's chief of police) and Talleyrand (Napoleon's crafty chief diplomat) on the eve of the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in 1815.
Talleyrand is hosting in sumptuous style, his personal cook Antonin Carème is in the kitchen, and among the dishes on the menu is "Asperges en petits pois", for which he gives Fouché the recipe, saying it comes from a certain Monsieur de Cussy (Chief Steward of the imperial household under Napoleon, then under Louis XVIII).
It's a terrific historical drama (you can watch an extract here and test your French!), which was later made into an excellent film.
And to drink?
I suggest a nice Valençay, either white or red, whichever you prefer, to enter properly into the spirit of Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, known simply as Talleyrand.
Keeping: Should be eaten immediately.
Source: Home made, based on Jean-Claude Brisville's play "Le Souper".
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 40 RDI=20 % | 80 RDI=8 % | 100 RDI=20 % | 1,380 RDI=70 % | 5,790 RDI: 70 % |
| Per 100 g | 3 RDI=1 % | 7 RDI=1 % | 9 RDI=1 % | 130 RDI=6 % | 540 RDI: 6 % |
| Per person | 9 RDI=4 % | 20 RDI=2 % | 30 RDI=4 % | 350 RDI=20 % | 1,450 RDI: 20 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 4 people : 6.45 €
- Per person : 1.65 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Asparagus
Like these other recipes: Creamy asparagus and meat timbale, Filet mignon with asparagus, Asparagus and spinach gratin, How to prepare asparagus, White asparagus salad, ... See them all 5
Vegetable stock
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Endive and beer soup, Late Winter Soup with Fresh Spinach, Sautéed Green Vegetables in pan, Chinese Soup, Mexican-style pork medallions , ... See them all 19
Liquid cream
Like these other recipes: Bourguignon potatoes , Chocolate sauce, Salmon with sorrel, The total turnip, French toast "cordon bleu", ... See them all 170
Butter
Like these other recipes: Almond cream or frangipane, Potatoes with prawns, Potimarron (chestnut pumpkin) "au gratin", Breton galettes (pancakes), Leek and broccoli "à la flamande", ... See them all 472
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