Asparagus Ham Custard Food

ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put the asparagus on a baking sheet, drizzle on the oil, sprinkle on the salt and pepper and toss. Roast until tender and browning at the edges, about 20 minutes.

RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Peel the bottom third of the asparagus stalks with a vegetable peeler. Snap each stalk where it breaks naturally; reserve 4 of the peeled bottoms for crostini (below). Thinly slice 6 asparagus bottoms and place the rest of the bottoms in a saucepan with 8 cups water and the thyme to make asparagus broth; bring to a simmer.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook, stirring, until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until glossy, about 1 minute. Add 1 1/4 teaspoons salt. Pour in the wine and stir until absorbed. Stir in 1/2 cup of the asparagus broth until absorbed (use a ladle to add the broth, keeping the solids in the pan). Continue to add broth in 1/2-cup increments, stirring constantly and allowing the liquid to be absorbed before adding more, about 10 minutes. (You should have about half the broth left.) Stir in the sliced asparagus bottoms and the lemon zest. Add the remaining broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until the rice is just tender, 5 to 8 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the asparagus tips in a large skillet, cover with water and season with salt and pepper. Simmer over medium-high heat until just tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, the parmesan and lemon juice to the risotto. Stir in the lettuce, remove from the heat and season with salt. Divide among bowls, top with the robiola and season with pepper. Drizzle the asparagus tips with olive oil and spoon over the risotto.

ASPARAGUS FRITTATA

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Melt the butter in a 9-inch cast-iron frying pan. Add the onions and saute until they are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the asparagus and cook until just softened, 2 minutes.
• Whisk together the eggs, cream, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Fold in the feta. Pour the egg mixture over the asparagus mixture and cook until almost set, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the broiler and cook until golden brown on top, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

BASIC BOILED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring about 6 quarts of water to a rapid boil in a covered pot large enough to hold the asparagus. Cut the bottom section- usually about 1 to 2 inches off the asparagus stalks with a sharp knife. Peel the asparagus by laying them flat, one at a time, on a cutting board. If the asparagus are thinner than 1/2-inch, use a vegetable peeler and peel the asparagus starting at the base of the tip and peeling them all the way down to the base, eliminating the fibrous peel and revealing the pale green flesh. If the asparagus are very thick or woody, use a paring knife and start peeling from the base. When ready to cook, toss the salt into the boiling water and carefully lower in the asparagus. Turn the heat to low and simmer the asparagus, uncovered, until the spears are easily penetrated with a knife, usually after about 5 minutes but from 1 minute for very thin asparagus to 12 minutes for the very thickest. If serving cold asparagus, plunge the hot cooked asparagus into ice water or rinse under cold water in a colander. Pat dry.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH FETA CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Divide and toss the asparagus with the olive oil, salt, and pepper, and arrange in a single layer on 2 to 3 separate large rimmed baking sheets.
• Place in the oven and roast until the spears are tender and the tips are turning golden and slightly charred, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Prepare the vinaigrette while the asparagus is roasting. To a bowl, add the Dijon mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Whisk in the olive oil to emulsify. Taste for seasoning and adjust, if necessary.
• Remove the asparagus from the oven and place on a serving platter. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and sprinkle with the feta cheese. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Break off the tough ends of the asparagus and, if they're thick, peel them. Place the asparagus on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, then toss to coat the asparagus completely. Spread the asparagus in a single layer and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Roast the asparagus for 25 minutes, until tender but still crisp.