Asparagus Ham Hock And Potato Salad Food

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!

SHEET-PAN HAM, ASPARAGUS AND HASSELBACK POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425˚ F. Melt the butter with the garlic, thyme sprigs and a large pinch each of salt and pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat; remove from the heat and let sit 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the ham: Stir together the fig jam, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl until the sugar dissolves; set aside. Score lines in a crosshatch pattern, 1 inch apart, into the top and sides of the ham; loosely wrap in a large sheet of heavy-duty foil, pouring 1/4 cup water over the ham before sealing. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet.
• Make the potatoes: Cut a thin sliver from one long side of a potato so that it sits flat; position cut-side down between the handles of two wooden spoons. Using a sharp knife, make cuts in the potato 1/8 inch apart, stopping when your knife hits the spoon handles (do not cut all the way through). Repeat with the remaining potatoes. Arrange on the baking sheet with the ham, drizzle with half of the garlic butter and season generously with salt and pepper. Bake 40 minutes.
• Open the foil and brush the ham with two-thirds of the fig glaze (leave the foil open). Drizzle the potatoes with the remaining garlic butter. Bake until a thermometer inserted into the center of the ham reaches 145˚ F, the glaze is browned and the potatoes are very tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 30 to 40 more minutes.
• Make the asparagus: Toss the asparagus with the olive oil, shallot, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Brush the ham with the remaining glaze. Push the potatoes to one side of the baking sheet and sprinkle with the cheese. Spread the asparagus in the open space on the baking sheet. Continue baking until the ham glaze is sticky, the cheese on the potatoes is melted and the asparagus is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Let the ham rest 10 minutes, then slice. Sprinkle the potatoes with the thyme leaves and chives. Serve with rolls.

POTATO AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Remove the lower third of the asparagus stems. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add a teaspoon butter and the asparagus. Cook for 5-7 minutes, depending on how thick the stalks are, they should remain rather firm or al dente. Remove from the water and drain well.
• In the meantime make the vinaigrette: whisk together the vinegar, oil, and mustard. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Sprinkle the asparagus with about half of the vinaigrette and rub the spears gently with the dressing. Let marinate for about 30 minutes.
• In the meantime cook the potatoes in a large pot of salted water until tender.
• Boil the eggs until hard. Leave to cool slightly, peel and chop the eggs finely. Keep a few whole slices for decoration purposes, if desired.
• Chop the ham and the chives.
• Arrange the asparagus stems and the potatoes on a platter. Top with the eggs, ham, and chives and sprinkle with the remaining vinaigrette.
• Alternatively, slices the potatoes, cut the asparagus into shorter pieces, and mix everything with the dressing.

CREAMY HAM AND ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Place asparagus in a large saucepan with enough water to cover; cook until crisp-tender. Drain and set aside. , In a large heavy saucepan, saute carrot in butter for 3-5 minutes; add onions and saute 2 minutes longer or until tender. Stir in flour; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes. Add broth, ham, mushrooms and reserved asparagus. Reduce heat; add cream. Heat through but do not boil. Add salt and pepper. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and parsley if desired.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS & SMASHED NEW POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Slice the bottom 2cm of the asparagus spears into thin rounds and set aside in a bowl with the lemon juice. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and boil the potatoes for 10-12 mins until cooked through, adding the asparagus spears for the last 2 mins of cooking. Drain and steam-dry in the colander. Heat the grill to high.
• Tip the potatoes onto a baking tray and use a spoon or fish slice to crush them a bit. Add the asparagus to the tray and toss in 1 tbsp of the olive oil, season and grill for 10-15 mins, turning halfway through, until the potatoes are crisp and the asparagus is cooked through and a little charred. Add the lettuce for the final 5 mins until charred. Meanwhile, cook the peas, drain and add these to the lemon juice and asparagus ends. Whisk in the olive oil and season.
• Pile the lettuce, asparagus and potatoes onto a large serving dish. Top with chunks of goat's cheese, the asparagus stalks and peas, drizzling the sauce over the rest of the vegetables as you go. Scatter with dill and lemon zest to serve.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS & POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Trim the top off the garlic heads leaving the rest of the bulb intact.
• After a good cleaning, quarter the potatoes and place in a large bowl. Add the oregano, thyme, oil and stock. Now add the two garlic bulbs and toss together. Pour into a baking pan and roast for 30 minutes or until the garlic and potatoes are tender. Check about 20 minutes in and if the pan is very dry add another tablespoon or two of broth.
• Remove potatoes from the oven and pour off any remaining liquid into a bowl. Let the potatoes and garlic cool.
• Clean and trim the asparagus into 2-inch pieces. Steam or boil until they are cooked crisp tender (3 to 5 minutes). Plunge into cold water to stop the cooking and drain.
• Take the roasted garlic and gently squeeze the soft cloves into the bowl of oil drained from the roasting pan. Stir to create a nice dressing. If it seems too thick, add a little more broth. The exact thickness is up to you but I like mine thicker than a vinaigrette but thinner than a mayonnaise type dressing. For me that's about 2-4 tablespoons. Season with salt and pepper.
• Toss together the roasted potatoes, asparagus, red onion, scallions and garlic dressing.
• Serve at room temperature.

HAM AND POTATOES WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F or grill to medium-high. Spray foil with nonstick spray.
• Center half of potatoes on each sheet of aluminum foil. Top with ham and asparagus. Spoon one-fourth of container of alfredo sauce over top of each servings; reserve remaining alfredo sauce for future use.
• Bring up foil sides. Double fold top and ends to seal packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside. Repeat to make two packets.
• Bake 20 to 22 minutes on a cookie sheet in oven or grill 13 to 15 minutes in covered grill.

PEA, ASPARAGUS & HAM HOCK TART

Steps:

• First, make the pastry. Rub the flour, butter, mustard powder (if using), parmesan and 1 tsp fine salt together in a large bowl using your fingertips until the mixture resembles sand. Or, do this by pulsing the ingredients together in a food processor. Gradually add 4-6 tbsp cold water, pressing the mixture together until you have a soft dough. Briefly knead the dough until smooth.
• Roll the pastry out between two sheets of baking parchment until 3mm thick and large enough to line a 20 x 7cm loose-bottomed springform cake tin. Remove the top layer of parchment and invert the pastry into the tin, or drape it over the rolling pin and unravel it into the tin. Push the pastry into the base and up the side - there should be about 1½cm excess pastry that comes above the rim. Use your thumbs and index finger to crimp the excess around the edge. Chill for at least 1 hr 30 mins or overnight.
• Meanwhile, cook the peas and asparagus in a pan of boiling water for 3 mins, or just 2 mins for defrosted frozen peas. Immediately plunge into a bowl of ice-cold water to halt the cooking process, and leave to cool in the bowl for 2 mins. Drain and set aside until needed.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Prick the base of the chilled pastry case all over with a fork. Scrunch up a piece of baking parchment, then use it to line the case, leaving some overhanging. Fill the case all the way to the top with baking beans or uncooked dry beans or rice. Bake for 15 mins, then remove the beans and parchment and bake for 10-15 mins more until golden. Don't worry if it shrinks from the edge slightly. Leave to cool while you make the filling.
• Whisk together the eggs, double cream and crème fraîche, then mix in the herbs, spring onions, lemon zest and juice, parmesan and cooked peas. Season with sea salt and a good crack of black pepper, then pour the filling into the baked case. Sprinkle the shredded ham hock over, pressing it into the filling slightly, then arrange the asparagus spears on top.
• Turn the oven down to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and bake the quiche for 45-55 mins until golden on top with a slight wobble in the middle. Leave to cool for 20 mins in the tin, then serve warm or leave to cool completely and chill until needed. Will keep chilled for three days.
• When ready to serve, toss the pea shoots and mangetout with the olive oil, then pile in the middle of the quiche. Cut into wedges to serve.