Asparagus And Goat Curd Salad Food

SHAVED ASPARAGUS AND GOAT CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Line large cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper.
• Carefully unfold thawed sheet of puff pastry. If necessary, use rolling pin to flatten any edges and smooth out dough. Using knife or pizza cutter, cut puff pastry into 6 even rectangles. Prick pastry rectangles with fork. Place rectangles on cookie sheet a few inches apart. Brush with beaten egg.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Place cookie sheet on cooling rack to cool at least 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix cheese, cream and lemon peel; stir well. In medium bowl, mix shaved asparagus, peas, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and mint. Spread 1 tablespoon cheese mixture on center of each cooled pastry rectangle. Top with asparagus mixture; sprinkle with pepper.

POACHED RHUBARB AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Place a large saucepan of heavily salted water over high heat. In another large saucepan, combine sugar with 3/4 cup water. Place over medium-low heat, and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add wine, rhubarb juice or grenadine, and peppercorns.
• Bring to a simmer, and add rhubarb. Simmer until rhubarb is cooked through but not soft, about 5 minutes. Drain, rinse to remove peppercorns, and drain again.
• Fill a bowl with ice water. Place asparagus in boiling salted water, and blanch until bright green and barely tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Immediately transfer asparagus to ice water. When asparagus is chilled, drain well, and refrigerate.
• In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice and mustard. Whisk in olive oil to make a smooth vinaigrette.
• Place salad greens and herb mixture in a large serving bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Slice rhubarb vertically into long, thin strips, and set aside. Slice each asparagus stalk into 3-inch pieces, and set aside. To serve, arrange alternating pieces of asparagus and rhubarb to make a rectangle on each of four plates. Place mound of greens near rectangle, and drizzle a small amount of vinaigrette over asparagus and rhubarb.

ASPARAGUS AND CHICKEN SALAD WITH BUTTERMILK DRESSING

Steps:

• Make the dressing: Pulse the parsley, tarragon, lemon juice and mustard in a mini food processor to make a coarse paste. Add the buttermilk, mayonnaise and olive oil; pulse until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Make the salad: Prepare a large bowl of salted ice water. Toast the almonds in a small dry skillet over low heat, about 4 minutes; transfer to a plate and let cool. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the asparagus and cook until just tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain and transfer to the ice water; let cool. Drain again and pat dry; transfer to a large bowl.
• Add the lettuce, watercress, radishes, chicken, goat cheese, parsley and half of the toasted almonds to the bowl. Drizzle with about half of the dressing and season with salt and pepper; toss. Sprinkle with the remaining toasted almonds and serve with the remaining dressing.

ASPARAGUS AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until beginning to smoke; add red pepper and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes, stirring only once after 1 minute. Add asparagus, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; cook until asparagus is browned and almost tender, about 2 minutes, stirring only once after 1 minute. Stir in shallot and cook until softened and asparagus is tender-crisp, about 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Transfer to large plate and cool 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk remaining 4 tablespoons oil, vinegar, garlic, 1/4-teaspoon salt, and 1/8-teaspoon pepper in medium bowl until combined. In large bowl, toss spinach with 2 tablespoons dressing and divide among salad plates. Toss asparagus mixture with remaining dressing and place a portion over spinach; divide goat cheese among salads and serve.

ASPARAGUS-AND-GOAT-CURD SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of water to a boil. Add enough salt to make the water salty. Add the asparagus and cook for 3 minutes. Drain and run under cold water. Lay the asparagus out to cool completely and dry. Slice into 1-to-1 1/2-inch lengths. Combine the asparagus and arugula in a bowl.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the blood-orange juice, vinegar and mustard and a little salt and pepper. Add the oil in gradual amounts, first in drops, then in a thin stream, until the vinaigrette is thick and emulsified. Season to taste.
• Pour the dressing over the arugula and asparagus. Toss to coat. Add the goat curd, broken into lumps. Toss gently to mix. Taste and adjust seasoning.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH GARLIC & GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Toss first five ingredients; spread in a greased 15x10x1-in. pan. Roast until tender, 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a bowl; toss with cheese.

ASPARAGUS AND CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice water. Bring about 1 inch of water to a boil in a large skillet. Add the asparagus; cook until bright green and crisp-tender, 2 to 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus. Drain and transfer to the ice water to stop the cooking; drain and pat dry. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Roll out the puff pastry into a 10-by-16-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and prick all over with a fork. Bake until light golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool slightly on the baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, mix the fontina, comte, shallot, egg yolks, milk, nutmeg and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a bowl until combined. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the puff pastry, leaving a 1-inch border on all sides. Toss the asparagus with the olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Arrange the asparagus on the tart and bake until the cheese mixture is slightly puffy, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with the lemon zest. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CRISP ASPARAGUS AND SWEET PEA SALAD WITH POACHED EGG AND GOATS CURD

Steps:

• Cut asparagus spears at approximately ⅘th of their length on a 45 degree angle- if you bend the spear, the place where it snaps is where you should but it. Discard fibrous ends.
• De-pod sweet peas and discard outer pods.
• Prepare two pots with boiling water. In one pot add salt and quickly blanch the asparagus and peas until just cooked and crisp. Remove and drain immediately.
• In the other, poach 2 eggs till medium-runny in boiling water with white vinegar.
• Return asparagus spears to pan and coat lightly in olive oil with a pinch of fleur de sel.
• Arrange fresh goats cheese and poached egg in centre of plate. Place peas around them and individually place asparagus spears on top.
• To serve: add fine shavings of Cacioricotta cheese, fleur de sel and cracked black pepper over the asparagus.
• Serve with a crisp white wine.

PAN-FRIED & RAW ASPARAGUS WITH GOAT'S CURD & BEETROOT

Steps:

• First, make the dressing. In a small bowl or jug, whisk the oil, orange zest and juice lightly, then add the pine nuts and set aside.
• Hold the asparagus at the base and just below the tip, then snap in two - you will feel a natural breaking point where the asparagus becomes a little woody. Save the woody bases for soups or stocks.
• Shred four spears of asparagus using a mandolin (or slice lengthways with a vegetable peeler). Repeat the process with the cooked beetroot. Put the shaved asparagus in a bowl of cold water and set side.
• Heat a frying pan or skillet over a high heat until hot. Coat the remaining six whole pieces of asparagus with the oil and place in the hot pan, moving them around in the pan, and season with a few pinches of sea salt. Allow the asparagus to brown, then remove, draining off any excess oil.
• Put the roasted asparagus on the plate, then add dollops of the curd. Drain the raw asparagus, then layer it over the curd with the slices of cooked beetroot. Stir the dressing and drizzle over the dish. Add some baby salad leaves to decorate, if you like.

ASPARAGUS, TOMATO & GOAT CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• ARRANGE asparagus, onions and tomatoes on platter.
• TOP with cheese, basil and nuts.
• DRIZZLE with dressing just before serving.