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
800 g Asparagus - 2
30 g butter - 3
100 g vegetable stock - 4
100 g liquid cream - 5
2 egg yolks - 6
2 pinches grated nutmeg - 7
chives - 8
salt - 9
pepper - Total weight: 1,070 grams
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 800 g 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 30 g 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 100 g vegetable stock and leave to simmer until the stock had almost completely evaporated.
Stage 7 - 1 min.
Add i100 g 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: How to prepare asparagus, Filet mignon with asparagus, Creamy asparagus and meat timbale, White asparagus salad, Asparagus and spinach gratin, ... See them all 5
Vegetable stock
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Provençal braised carrots, Mexican-style pork medallions , Pea risotto "Mantecare", Duo of slow-cooked pork, Pork medallions with "full" turnips, ... See them all 19
Liquid cream
Like these other recipes: Bourguignon potatoes , Flaked almond tart, Hearty potato and ham gratin, Eggs with green asparagus and Parmesan cheese, Gratin of leeks with Morbier cheese, ... See them all 170
Butter
Like these other recipes: Coconut sweetcrust pastry, Apple Batter Puddings, Kouign-amann brioche, Green beans with feta cream and basil, Green beans "Napoléon", ... See them all 472
Other recipes you may also like
X-Files cookies
These cookies made with lime and almonds are a sure-fire hit with children. They enjoy the amusing shape, of course, but also the delicious flavour.May 27th 2012115 K4.1 3 hours 35 min.
Pretzels
Pretzels are bread sticks looped into a knot, probably with origins in southern Germany. The tops are sprinkled with poppy seeds or grains of coarse salt. Here is a fairly straightforward recipe that is simple to prepare.October 24th 2017143 K4.9 5 hours 25 min.
Rhubarb mousse
This delicious mousse is the perfect summer dessert: a delicate combination of stewed rhubarb and Italian meringue.August 25th 201944 K 35 min.
Roasted cauliflower
This is how Yotam Ottolenghi does roasted cauliflower: whole, served with a green parsley tahini sauce.April 19th 202048 K 2 hours 35 min.
Spring courgette and tuna salad
Crunchy baby courgettes, spring onion, fresh herbs and tuna in a rémoulade dressing combine to make a true spring salad.June 5th 202223 K 20 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-07-06)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.