Asparagus And Serrano Ham Salad With Toasted Almonds Food

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WRAPPED IN SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet with canola oil spray.
• Lay a slice of ham on a work surface. Place a stalk of asparagus perpendicular to the ham, with the tip of the asparagus just higher than the top edge of the ham. Roll the asparagus on a diagonal, tightly wrapping the ham around the stalk as you go. (The ham should cover the entire stalk except for about an inch on the top and bottom ends.) Repeat with the remaining asparagus and ham.
• Place the asparagus, seam-side down, on the prepared baking sheet and lightly grease the tops with canola oil spray. Bake until the ham is crispy and the asparagus has softened and begun to char at the tips, about 15 minutes. Immediately pour the orange juice over the hot asparagus and season with salt. (The orange juice will almost completely evaporate on the hot baking sheet, but it will infuse the asparagus with orange flavor.)
• Transfer the asparagus to a serving plate and garnish with the orange zest. Serve immediately.

SERRANO HAM SALAD WITH ALMOND GARLIC SAUCE

Steps:

• Mince garlic and mash to a paste with salt using a heavy knife or a mortar and pestle. Transfer to a blender along with 1/2 cup almonds, water, oil, vinegar, hot sauce, and black pepper, then blend until dressing is very smooth, about 1 minute. Coarsely chop remaining 2 tablespoons almonds.
• Cut a lengthwise slit in peppers and discard any seeds, then cut peppers into 1/4-inch-wide strips.
• Divide romaine and peppers among 4 plates, then arrange ham on top. Drizzle each serving with some dressing and sprinkle with chopped almonds. Serve remaining dressing on the side.
• *Available at specialty foods shops, some supermarkets, and The Spanish Table (206-682-2827).

ASPARAGUS WITH SLICED ALMONDS AND PARMESAN CHEESE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus, and cook, stirring, about 3 minutes. Stir in almonds and parmesan, and cook until the cheese is slightly browned, about 3 to 5 minutes.

ASPARAGUS WRAPPED IN SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Whisk oil, vinegar, shallot, salt and pepper in a bowl. Set aside. Cook asparagus in simmering water until soft but still crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Rinse under cold water and drain. Wrap a strip of ham around each asparagus stalk. Toss frisée, greens and grapes with dressing in a bowl, then transfer to a platter; top with asparagus. Garnish with almonds.

ASPARAGUS WITH SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Place half the olive oil in a roasting pan that will hold the asparagus spears in a single layer. Swirl it around so that it covers the bottom of pan. Cut each slice of Serrano ham in half lengthwise.
• Trim and discard the coarse woody ends of the asparagus spears, then wrap each stem end in a slice of ham. Place the wrapped spears in the prepared roasting pan and lightly brush with the remaining olive oil. Season with pepper.
• Roast asparagus spears for 10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus, until tender but still firm. Do not overcook; keep them firm enough so that you can pickup with your fingers.
• Serve piping hot and with your favorite Aioli Sauce for dipping.

ELSA'S HAM AND ASPARAGUS TOASTS

Steps:

• Holding 1 spear at each end snap off the tough stem of asparagus. Use this spear as a guide line to trim the bundle with a sharp knife. Simmer asparagus in salted boiling water 3 minutes. Drain and run under cold water. Cut asparagus to fit the size of the toasts.
• Toast 8 thick slices of farmhouse style bread under a preheated broiler 6 inches from heat. Combine softened butter and mustard. Spread the toasted bread with mustard butter. Cut sliced ham into smaller pieces to process. Grind the ham in your food processor. Spread the toast with ground ham. Arrange steamed asparagus spears on top of the layer of ham. Top each toast with a few grinds of black pepper and a mound of fontina cheese. Return toasts to hot oven under broiler and cook toasts until cheese melts and lightly browns at edges. Arrange ham and asparagus toast on a platter and serve.

ASPARAGUS WITH SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Cook 1 bunch asparagus (trimmed and peeled) in salted boiling water until crisp-tender, 2 minutes. Drain and let cool, then pat dry. Wrap each spear with a slice of serrano ham. For the dip: Puree 1/2 cup mayonnaise with 1/4 cup roasted red peppers, 1/2 teaspoon sherry vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon hot smoked paprika.

ASPARAGUS AND SERRANO HAM SALAD WITH TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Have ready a large bowl of ice and cold water. Cook asparagus in boiling salted water until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain spears, then refresh in ice water. Drain asparagus again and pat dry.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a small skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook almonds, bread crumbs, and cumin, stirring frequently, until toasted, 3 to 4 minutes. Cool. Add remaining oil to vinegar in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.
• Toss escarole with half of dressing and mound on plates. Arrange ham around escarole and top salad with asparagus. Drizzle asparagus with remaining dressing. Sprinkle salad with almond-and-crumb mixture.

TARRAGON ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Place the first 7 ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well. Refrigerate at least 1 hour., In a large skillet, bring 1/2 in. of water to a boil. Add asparagus; cook, covered, until crisp-tender, 1-3 minutes. Remove asparagus and immediately drop into ice water. Drain and pat dry. Refrigerate, covered, until serving., To serve, shake dressing again. Spoon over asparagus.

WARM KALE SALAD WITH ALMONDS & SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Toss the shallots with 1 tsp oil on a large non-stick baking tray. Separate the rings a little as you turn them in the oil. Roast for 10 mins, stirring halfway, until starting to soften and turn golden here and there.
• In a large bowl, whisk the vinegar, oil, mustard, sugar and some seasoning together to make the dressing, then tip in the raisins and leave to soak. In a smaller roasting tin, toss the almonds, oil, paprika and a pinch of sea salt. Rub the kale all over with 1 tsp vegetable oil and some seasoning.
• Remove the shallot tray from the oven, mix in the kale (it's fine if it mounds a bit), then return the tray to the oven and put the almonds on the shelf below. Roast for 7 mins, giving the kale a turn halfway through, until crisp in some places, wilted in others.
• Ruffle the ham onto serving plates. Tip the kale, shallots and celery into the dressing bowl, make sure it coats the kale well, then mound on top of the ham and scatter with the almonds and the cheese, if using.

ASPARAGUS WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute almonds in 1 teaspoon of oil until lightly browned; remove and set aside. In the same skillet, saute asparagus in the remaining oil for 1 minute. Add the water, sugar, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 3-4 minutes or until asparagus is tender. Drain. Sprinkle with lemon juice; top with almonds.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH ALMONDS AND ASIAGO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the asparagus with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and roast for 15 minutes, until tender. Meanwhile, put the almonds in a pie plate and toast in the oven for 5 minutes, until golden.
• Transfer the asparagus to a platter and drizzle with the lemon juice and the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Scatter the Asiago over the asparagus, sprinkle with the almonds and serve with lemon wedges.

SALAD OF GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH TALEGGIO CHEESE AND SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Prepare barbecue (medium heat) and preheat oven to 425°F. Whisk vinegar, shallot and sugar in small bowl until sugar dissolves. Gradually whisk in oil. Season dressing with salt and pepper.
• Arrange asparagus on rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons dressing. Sprinkle asparagus with salt and pepper. Grill asparagus until crisp-tender, turning occasionally, about 6 minutes. Return asparagus to same sheet. Drizzle with additional 1/3 cup dressing; top with cheese. Bake until cheese melts, about 5 minutes. Place greens in large bowl. Add 1/4 cup dressing and toss to coat. Using spatula, divide asparagus among 6 plates. Arrange greens alongside. Drape ham over greens. Sprinkle pine nuts over salads. Serve with remaining dressing.

ALMOND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in bread crumbs, garlic and dill; saute until crumbs are golden brown. Remove from heat; stir in the almonds and cheese. Set aside. , Cook asparagus in a small amount of water until crisp-tender. Drain; heat with remaining butter. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Spoon asparagus into a serving dish and top with the reserved crumb mixture.

ASPARAGUS WITH TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of slightly salted water to a boil.
• Snap off and discard the ends of the asparagus. Cut trimmed asparagus spears on a diagonal into 2-inch-long pieces.
• Cook asparagus in boiling water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes.
• Drain and rinse under cold water. Pat asparagus dry with paper towels.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-heat. Add almonds and cook, stirring occasionally, until toasted (abour 3 minutes). Transfer to a plate.
• Heat oil and garlic together in a large skillet over medium heat until garlic begins to brown, about 2 minute Add asparagus and cook, stirring often, until heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in almonds. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.

SAUTéED ASPARAGUS, TOASTED ALMONDS & MANCHEGO CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and plunge in the asparagus. Cook for 2-3 mins, drain, then leave them to sit somewhere warm.
• Next, put the butter into a cold pan with the almonds. Carefully heat it up, watching that the butter doesn't get too dark. When it just turns golden brown and is beginning to foam, remove from the heat and pour in the lemon juice to stop the cooking.
• Arrange the asparagus onto 6 serving plates and spoon over some of the brown butter and almonds. Shave the cheese with a peeler, scatter over and serve.

ASPARAGUS WRAPPED WITH SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Wrap each asparagus spear with a slice of ham.
• Place wrapped spears in a single layer in a baking dish.
• Sprinkle with black pepper and drizzle with olive oil.
• Roast for 10 minutes.

RED & GREEN SALAD WITH TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk the first 7 ingredients. Gradually whisk in grapeseed oil until blended., In a large bowl, combine lettuces, red pepper, celery, cucumber, peas and tomatoes. Just before serving, pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Sprinkle with almonds.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH TANGERINE DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Place asparagus in medium bowl. Pour enough cold water over asparagus to cover; let stand 15 minutes. Drain. Spread asparagus in 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan; drizzle with oil. Roast asparagus until crisp-tender, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes. Transfer asparagus to platter; cool.
• Using sharp knife, cut peel and white pith from tangerines. Cut between membranes to release segments. Arrange tangerine segments atop asparagus. Whisk tangerine juice, vinegar, sesame oil, peel, garlic and ginger in small bowl to blend. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Drizzle over asparagus. Sprinkle with green onion tops and peanuts and serve.

SPRING ASPARAGUS, HAM AND POTATO SALAD - HONEY MUSTARD DRESSING

Steps:

• Make up the dressing by putting all the dressing ingredients into a jar and shaking it well. The dressing can be made up well in advance.
• Choose two attractive plates or bowls and start to assemble the salad.
• Place the potatoes on the plate/bowl first and then arrange the strips of ham & asparagus spears over the top - gently mix through to "just" mingle the ingredients together.
• Next, scatter the minced/finely diced red onion over and then the sliced cornichons - if you are using them.
• Pour over the honey & mustard dressing - giving the salad a liberal dousing!
• Season and scatter the chopped chives and/or the chopped chervil over the top.
• Serve with crusty bread & a glass of crisp, chilled white Chablis or Chardonnay!
• Optional ideas:.
• You could also add peas, broad beans, olives or crispy bacon!