Cream of Asparagus Soup

Using a vegetable peeler, peel 5 asparagus spears lengthwise into very thin strips. Transfer the strips to a small bowl and cover with ice water. Set aside until ready to use. Cut the remaining asparagus spears into 1-inch pieces.

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the asparagus pieces and garlic; cook, stirring often, until the asparagus is bright green and the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add broth, salt and pepper; bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer, undisturbed, until the asparagus is tender, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in tarragon.

Pour the soup into a blender. Secure the lid on the blender and remove the center piece to allow steam to escape. Place a clean towel over the opening. Process until smooth, about 1 minute. (Alternatively, use an immersion blender to process the soup in the pot until smooth. Use caution when blending hot liquids.) Return the soup to the pot; add cream and stir until combined. Ladle into 4 bowls. Garnish with a swirl of cream, if desired, and the reserved asparagus strips.