Asparagi Alla Parmigiana Italian Asparagus Gratin Food

ASPARAGUS GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F with oven rack about 6 inches from heat.
• Toss together asparagus and shallot in a 10-inch broiler-safe skillet or 8-inch square broiler-safe baking dish.
• Stir together cream, mustard, flour, garlic, salt, pepper, and 1/2 cup of the fontina. Pour over asparagus, and using tongs, gently toss to coat asparagus. Top with Parmesan and remaining 1/2 cup fontina, and bake in preheated oven until asparagus is almost tender-crisp and cheese is melted, 10 to 12 minutes. Increase oven temperature to broil, and broil until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes more.

ASPARAGUS GRATIN

Steps:

• Trim and wash the asparagus.
• In a pot a simmering water, cook the asparagus about 8 minutes or until tender. Drain.
• Divide asparagus into 6 equal bundles. Wrap 1 slice of the meat around each bundle and place in a shallow baking dish.
• In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Add the breadcrumbs to the butter and mix. Cook for 1 minute. Pour this mixture over the bundles. Top with the shredded Gruyere.
• Broil until cheese lightly browns, about 1 minute.

ASPARAGI ALLA PARMIGIANA (ITALIAN ASPARAGUS GRATIN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Butter a shallow gratin or baking dish that is just large enough to hold the asparagus.
• Place a layer of asparagus in the dish, with the tips all facing the same direction. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and some of the cheese Keep adding layers until all asparagus and all cheese is used, finishing with the cheese.
• Dot the top of the dish with the pieces of butter and place the dish on the top rack of the oven.
• Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until the asparagus is cooked through and beginning to brown and the cheese is melted.
• *Variations.
• Instead of the butter use olive oil or half butter and half olive oil.
• Use half Parmesan and half shredded fontina cheese for a creamier gratin.
• Layer a couple of slices of prosciutto in with the asparagus if you like.
• Sprinkle with a little lemon zest for added zing.

PARMESAN ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• If the stalks of the asparagus are thick, peel the bottom 1/2 of each. Lay them in a single layer on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and return to the oven for another minute. Serve with lemon wedges.

ASPARAGUS WITH PARMIGIANO-REGGIANO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of well salted water to a boil. Set up a bowl of well salted ice water. Place the trimmed asparagus in the boiling water and let the water come back to a rolling boil. Remove asparagus from the boiling water and plunge immediately into the ice water. Remove from the ice water, pat dry, and reserve.
• In a small bowl combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Season with salt. Toss the asparagus in the vinaigrette. Arrange on a serving plate and sprinkle with the crumbled egg white and yellow.
• Call your self a superstar!
• April - Why We Love: Asparagus

ASPARAGUS GRATIN

Steps:

• In a small saucepan heat the butter until frothy. Stir in the flour and cook slowly, stirring constantly, for a minute. Add the milk and broth, whisking vigorously and bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the sauce for 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the cheese, remove the sauce from the heat and whisk it just until the cheese has melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Arrange the asparagus in the bottom of a baking dish. Top with sliced eggs and spoon the sauce over the top. Top with bread crumbs mixed with cheese and drizzle melted butter over the top. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese sauce is bubbly.

ASPARAGUS GRATIN

Steps:

• Toss 2 pounds asparagus with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a 3-quart baking dish. Roast at 425˚ F until crisp-tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Mix 1/4 cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons grated pecorino, 1 tablespoon chopped thyme and 1 tablespoon melted butter. Sprinkle over the asparagus. Broil until the breadcrumbs are golden, 2 to 4 minutes.

BAKED ASPARAGUS ITALIAN STYLE (ASPARAGI AL FORNO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
• Clean the asparagus and trim off the woody ends if necessary.
• Place asparagus in a steamer (or in a pan of lightly salted water) and steam/cook for 8 minutes.
• Be sure not to over cook and make asparagus limpy.
• Place asparagus in a buttered, oven tolerant dish or pan.
• Season with pinch of salt and black pepper.
• Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the top and sprinkle with Parmigiano Reggiano.
• Bake in preheated oven for about 6-7 minutes until golden brown.
• Enjoy-- mmmmmmm.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH CRUNCHY PARMESAN TOPPING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 500 degrees; while it heats, put bread in, and check frequently until it is lightly toasted and dry. Coarsely grind or grate bread and cheese together (a small food processor is best), and keep crumbs larger than commercial bread crumbs.
• Rinse asparagus, and break off woody bottoms. Lay stalks in a baking dish that will hold them in two or three layers. Toss with bits of butter or the oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and place in oven.
• Roast 5 minutes, then shake dish to redistribute butter or oil. Roast 5 minutes more, then test for doneness by piercing a spear with point of a sharp knife; it should slide in but meet a little resistance. (Up to this point, the recipe can be made as much as two hours before serving; just leave asparagus at room temperature).
• Turn on broiler and place rack as close as possible to heating element. Top asparagus with cheese-crumb mixture and run under broiler to brown, a minute or two. Serve hot or at room temperature.

KENMARE'S ASPARAGUS GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, shallots and wine. Place over medium heat and simmer until reduced by half, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Spread pecans on a baking sheet and bake, stirring once or twice, until toasted, 10 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, place a skillet over low heat, add panko, and stir until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. When pecans are toasted, remove from oven and set aside to cool.
• Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees. When the pecans are cool, place in a blender and chop for a few seconds until coarsely ground. Mix with panko and set aside.
• In a mixing bowl combine asparagus, reduced cream, fontina, and Parmigiano Reggiano. Mix well and place in a gratin dish that is about 10 inches long and 4 inches wide, or an other shallow, ovenproof baking dish. Bake until asparagus are tender, the sauce is bubbling and the top is turning golden, 6 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and top with pecan-bread crumb mixture. In a separate bowl, mix the endive and radicchio with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Spread over the top of the asparagus gratin. Serve hot.

ASPARAGUS AND PARMESAN PUDDINGS

Steps:

• Butter eight 3/4-cup custard cups or soufflé dishes. Coat with breadcrumbs. Cut off asparagus tips. Cook tips in large saucepan of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain; reserve tips and 1 cup cooking liquid. Coarsely chop asparagus stalks.
• Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion; sauté until tender, about 6 minutes. Add stalks; sauté until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Add reserved asparagus cooking liquid. Cover; simmer until stalks are tender, about 12 minutes.
• Uncover; cook until liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Transfer to food processor; puree. Add Parmesan, ricotta and flour. Using on/off turns, process just until blended. Season with salt and pepper.
• Whisk eggs in bowl to blend. Add asparagus puree; whisk to blend. Stir in all but 16 asparagus tips. Divide custard among cups. Place cups in roasting pan. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover; chill puddings and remaining asparagus tips.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Pour hot water into pan to come 1 inch up sides of cups. Bake puddings until set, about 35 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Invert onto plates. Garnish with asparagus tips.

ASPARAGUS ALLA FONTINA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the asparagus and cook until crisp-tender. Drain and cut into 1-to-1½-inch lengths. Return the asparagus to the pot. Add the butter and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Set over low heat and stir to melt the butter. Remove from the heat.
• Turn the asparagus and the melted butter into a 9- or 10-inch pie plate. Arrange in an even layer. Sprinkle with the Gruyère, prosciutto and parsley. Pour the beaten eggs on top, gently shaking the pan to distribute.
• Top with the Parmesan and bake until the eggs are set into a custard and a golden-brown crust forms on top, about 35 minutes. Serve hot or warm.

CHICKEN AND ASPARAGUS GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to moderate 180 degree C.
• Remove meat from the chicken carcass, discard bones.
• Slice chicken finely.
• Line the base of a large shallow ovenproof dish with chicken, top with half the asparagus.
• Combine soup, sour cream, spring onions and capsicum.
• Season to taste and pour over chicken.
• Arrange remaining asparagus on top of the chicken mixture and cover with the combine cheeses.
• Sprinkle with paprika and bake for 30 minutes, until the top is golden and bubling.
• Serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS SALAD, ITALIAN-STYLE

Steps:

• Cut off the woodsy bottoms of the asparagus spears; discard. Cut off the flower ends and set aside.
• Use a vegetable peeler to remove the dark green outer skin of each spear; you should get three or four ribbons from each one. Set aside. Cut the remaining stalks crosswise into 1/4-inch rounds.
• Combine ribbons, sliced rounds and tips in a large bowl. Drizzle asparagus with oil, then sprinkle with lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper, then top with Parmesan.

EGG AND ASPARAGUS GRATIN

Steps:

• In a wide frying pan, bring about 1 inch water to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, snap off and discard tough ends of asparagus; then cut spears into 1-inch pieces. Add asparagus to boiling water and cook, uncovered, until just tender when pierced (3 to 5 minutes). Drain well.
• Divide asparagus among 4 well-buttered 4- to 5-inch-wide ovenproof dishes. Carefully break 2 eggs over asparagus in each dish. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the cream over eggs in each dish. Then sprinkle eggs evenly with lemon peel, and with salt and cayenne to taste.
• Set dishes on a baking sheet and bake in a 450°F oven until eggs are done to your liking (5 to 7 minutes for firm whites and soft yolks). Sprinkle evenly with cheese and bake for 1 more minute. Serve at once.

ASPARAGUS GRATIN...FANCY AND GOOD!

Steps:

• Butter a 2- to 2 1/2-quart shallow ceramic flameproof baking dish.
• Cook asparagus in a 5- to 6-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes.
• Drain in a colander, then transfer to baking dish and keep warm, tightly covered with foil.
• Meanwhile, heat oil and butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over high heat until foam subsides, then cook shallots, stirring occasionally, until pale golden, about 3 minutes.
• Add bread and pine nuts and cook, stirring, until browned in spots, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and add pepper, 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, tossing to combine.
• Preheat broiler.
• Toss warm asparagus with mascarpone, remaining 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt until combined well.
• Sprinkle bread-crumb mixture evenly over asparagus. Broil 5 to 7 inches from heat until topping is golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.

CAULIFLOWER ALLA PARMIGIANA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly coat an 8- by 10-inch oval baking dish with butter. Bring a large pot of water and 3 teaspoons salt to a boil. Add the cauliflower and boil until they are slightly softened, about 4 minutes.
• Drain well, cool slightly, and slice stems lengthwise to 1/4-inch thickness. Arrange the slices, overlapping them tightly, in the prepared baking dish. Season with salt and black pepper, and dot with butter. Sprinkle the top with the cheese. Bake uncovered until lightly browned on top, about 30 minutes. Serve hot.

SIMPLEST ASPARAGUS GRATIN

Steps:

• Adjust an oven rack to about 4 inches from the heat source; turn on the broiler. Grease a shallow medium baking pan or gratin dish with the butter.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the asparagus and cook until bright green and tender, about 5 minutes. Remove to an ice bath to stop the cooking then drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Add the cheese to the food processor and pulse until large crumbs form. Add the parsley and pulse 3 or 4 more times until it is about the same size as the cheese crumbs. Tear the bread into pieces and add to the food processor. Pulse a few times, then let the machine run for a few seconds, until coarsely chopped.
• Put the asparagus in the dish and top with the breadcrumb mixture. Broil for 3 to 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and golden. Sprinkle with a few grinds pepper and the paprika if you like, and serve.

ASPARAGUS AND PROSCIUTTO GRATIN OF FETTUCCINE

Steps:

• Trim the tough ends of the stalks from the asparagus. With a vegetable peeler, pare away any tough skin from the lower half of the stalk. Cut the asparagus into inch-and-a-half pieces on the diagonal.
• Meanwhile, bring six quarts salted water to boil for the fettuccine. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Steam the asparagus until barely tender. Set aside and keep warm.
• Melt the butter in a saute pan. Add the shallots and the prosciutto and saute until the shallots are soft. Add the cream and bring to a simmer. Add the tarragon and cook five minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper. Add the asparagus and keep warm until the fettuccine is cooked.
• Cook the fettuccine until al dente. Add it to the sauce and toss. Drain and transfer to a buttered baking dish and sprinkle with bread crumbs and cheese. Bake about 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

LEMON ROASTED ASPARAGUS GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F Spread asparagus even in a 13x9-inch glass baking dish.
• In a small bowl, mash together butter, garlic, lemon zest, pepper and salt. Drop in small dots over asparagus spears in a baking dish. Roast for about 15 minutes, shaking dish haflway to coat asparagus in butter, or until asparagus is just tender-crisp and starting to brown.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine breadcrumbs, cheese and lemon juice; sprinkle over asparagus and bake for about 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Broil 1-2 minutes or until golden brown.
• COOKING TIP: In place of asparagus, substitute 6 cups broccoli and/or cauliflower florets or 1 lb. trimmed green beans. Increase roasting time to 25 minutes.