Asparagus Fennel Pasta Salad Food

ASPARAGUS & HALLOUMI SALAD

Steps:

• In a large pan of boiling salted water, boil the asparagus until tender, then refresh in cold water.
• Preheat a griddle pan over a high heat. Slice and add the halloumi, then cook until charred, turning occasionally.
• Trim and finely slice the fennel, then peel and finely slice the onion.
• Place into a bowl with the asparagus and halloumi.
• Combine the oil with the orange zest and juice, then season well with sea salt and black pepper.
• Pour the dressing over the other ingredients, toss well and serve on a platter while the halloumi is still warm.

ASPARAGUS-FENNEL PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Place asparagus, onions and fennel in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Drizzle with oil; toss to coat. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. , Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and place in a large serving bowl. Add the tomatoes, olives, parsley and roasted vegetables. , In a small bowl, whisk the oil, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, salt and pepper. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Sprinkle with feta cheese.

ASPARAGUS PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Place asparagus in a large saucepan with enough water to cover; cook until crisp-tender. Drain and cool. In a large bowl, combine asparagus with the remaining ingredients; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight.

GRILLED ASPARAGUS AND FENNEL PASTA SALAD (COOKING FOR 2)

Steps:

• Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Rinse with cold water; drain.
• Meanwhile, heat coals or gas grill for direct heat. Toss asparagus, fennel, onion, 2 teaspoons oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt until vegetables are coated. Place in grill basket. Grill 5 to 6 inches from medium heat 10 to 15 minutes, stirring vegetables or shaking grill basket frequently, until vegetables are crisp-tender. Cool slightly.
• Shake all Vinaigrette ingredients in tightly covered container.
• In large bowl, toss vegetables, pasta, orange and vinaigrette. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to 2 hours before serving.

RICE, ASPARAGUS AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Combine rice and 1 1/2 cups water in heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, covered, until rice is cooked and water has been absorbed, a total of 17 minutes.
• Wash asparagus, and trim by breaking the stem at the point where the tender part meets the woody part. Discard woody part. Cut the asparagus just below the heads, and then cut the remainder of the stem on the diagonal into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Wash and trim fennel, and cut into small pieces.
• Heat oil in nonstick pan, and saute asparagus and fennel until it is tender, 5 to 7 minutes, depending on size of asparagus.
• Wash, dry and chop chives; mince garlic; add chives and garlic to asparagus. When ingredients are tender, stir into rice as it cooks.
• Season with salt and pepper, and serve.

LEMONY SALMON AND CREAMY ASPARAGUS PASTA

Steps:

• Cut off the tender asparagus tips at an angle, about a third of the asparagus stems. Boil the tips in 2 cups (500ml) water for 3 minutes, remove with a slotted spoon then blanch in cold water to keep the bright green colour, and reserve in a microwaveable bowl.
• Cut the remaining asparagus stems into rough 2cm pieces and boil, covered, in the same water with vegetable stock powder and white pepper, for about 8 minutes.
• Blend the stems and cooking water, pulsing until fairly smooth but with small chunks of asparagus remaining.
• In the meantime, in a small saucepan over low heat, make a classic roux: melt 2 tablespoons of butter and then stir in 2 tablespoons of flour with a wooden spoon continuously until the mixture combines completely. Let the roux brown very slightly for a couple of minutes.
• Start adding the milk very slowly, stirring all the time, until all the milk is absorbed by the thirsty roux, and then slowly add the asparagus puree, stirring constantly until you have a thick green asparagus sauce.
• Salt to taste, remembering that in a delicate sauce less salt is better, and you've probably used salted butter.
• Add most of the herbs, reserving some for garnish, then add the cream. Stir very well and turn off the heat.
• While you're doing that, oil the salmon fillets on both sides with about a tablespoon of olive oil and briefly sear over medium-high heat in a large non-stick saucepan. Watch as the white colour moves up the side of the salmon, and when about one-third of the way up turn the salmon. When the other side has seared, while the salmon is still pink in the middle, remove from the pan.
• Turn down the heat in the salmon pan, add the rest of the olive oil and soften onions for 2 minutes or so, add mushrooms for a further 3 minutes, and add garlic for a further 5 minutes. Stir often.
• Now's a good time to start cooking the pasta, according to instructions on the packet.
• Pour the asparagus herbed cream sauce into the onion and mushroom saucepan and mix well. Squeeze in the juice of half the lemon, taking care not to add the pips. Stir in half the parmesan cheese.
• Separate the salmon into flakes using a blunt knife. A butter knife is good; salmon flakes beautifully. Add salmon to the warm sauce and stir for 5 minutes or so over low heat. The sauce will finish cooking the medium-rare salmon without toughening it, while it absorbs the yummy creamy asparagus flavours in this honeymoon phase.
• Use the other half of the lemon to slice as garnish for your plates.
• Heat the asparagus tips in the microwave briefly.
• Drain the pasta and divide between the plates. Top with the creamy garlic lemon asparagus salmon sauce, then the asparagus tips and the remaining fresh herbs. Sprinkle with remaining parmesan.

SHAVED ASPARAGUS AND FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• Using a vegetable peeler, shave the asparagus. Shave the fennel bulb on a mandoline into very thin slices. In a large bowl, toss the shaved vegetables, basil and minced walnuts in a medium bowl. Dress the salad with the oil, lemon juice and some salt and pepper. Plate, and top each with Parmigiano-Reggiano shavings, then serve.

GRILLED FENNEL AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium-high.
• For the vinaigrette: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the garlic paste, lemon juice and zest, vinegar, salt, pepper and chili flakes. Gradually whisk in the olive oil. Cover and set aside.
• For the salad: Add the asparagus and fennel to the vinaigrette and toss to coat well. Brush the grill with some canola oil. Place the vegetables on the grill and cook until just caramelized and charred on all sides, about 4 minutes. Set aside to cool briefly.
• Heat a small saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and the pine nuts; toast until just golden brown, about 2 minutes. Set aside to cool in the pan.
• Slice the asparagus on the bias into 1-inch pieces. Core the fennel halves, then slice them 1/8- inch-thick. Add the asparagus and fennel back to the vinaigrette. Add the currants, olives, toasted pine nuts, arugula, salt and pepper. Toss well. Let sit for 5 minutes to allow the salad to absorb the vinaigrette. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with the shaved Pecorino.