Asparagus Or Broccoli And Fontina Cheese Soup Food

ASPARAGUS ALLA FONTINA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the asparagus and cook until crisp-tender. Drain and cut into 1-to-1½-inch lengths. Return the asparagus to the pot. Add the butter and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Set over low heat and stir to melt the butter. Remove from the heat.
• Turn the asparagus and the melted butter into a 9- or 10-inch pie plate. Arrange in an even layer. Sprinkle with the Gruyère, prosciutto and parsley. Pour the beaten eggs on top, gently shaking the pan to distribute.
• Top with the Parmesan and bake until the eggs are set into a custard and a golden-brown crust forms on top, about 35 minutes. Serve hot or warm.

ASPARAGUS AND FONTINA QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Using a vegetable peeler, slice the asparagus lengthwise into long, thin strips, starting just under the tip of each stalk. Leave the tips whole. (Alternatively, cut the asparagus into 1-inch pieces.)
• In a pot with a steamer insert or in a covered sauté pan fitted with an expandable steamer basket, bring 2 inches of water to a boil. Add the asparagus to the steamer insert or basket, cover, and steam until tender, about 30 seconds for strips and about 3 minutes for pieces.
• Rinse the asparagus under cold water to stop the cooking. Drain well and set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, garlic salt, and pepper. Stir in the Fontina, Gruyère, and reserved asparagus.
• Pour the mixture into the unbaked pie shell.
• Bake until lightly golden and set in the center when the pan is gently pushed, 40 to 45 minutes. If the crust is browning too quickly, cover it with foil to prevent it from burning.
• Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Cut into 6 or 8 slices and serve warm or at room temperature.
• The quiche is best served the day it is made. Tightly wrap leftovers with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

ASPARAGUS (OR BROCCOLI) AND FONTINA CHEESE SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter & oil in heavy cooking pot, over med-high heat. Sauté onions and celery until tender (~4 min.). Add garlic and sauté ~30 seconds (don't scorch - gets bitter). Add flour, stirring constantly for 1 minute, to cook out raw flour taste. Add water, broth, and Knoor soup base (or substitute bouillon). Stir until smooth. Bring to a gentle boil. Boil for 2 minutes to set the thickening.
• Add diced potatoes, chopped asparagus (or broccoli), salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to med-LOW and simmer for ~25 minutes.
• Puree about ¾ of the soup in a blender in small batches. (Hot soup expands when blended, so fill blender only about 2/3 way full!). I place batches in an intermediary large Pyrex bowl to hold until returning to pot.
• Return blended soup to pot. Stir in half-and-half, soy, and cheeses. Simmer (do NOT BOIL) 5-10 more minutes - stirring often, then taste for seasonings (probably needs a bit more pepper, doubtful it needs more salt - cheese, soup base, and broth are already somewhat salted).

CHILLED ASPARAGUS SOUP WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Coat a large saucepan with olive oil. Add the onion, celery and garlic and bring to a medium heat. Season with salt and sweat until the vegetables are very soft and aromatic, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the tips from the asparagus and reserve. Cut the stalks of the asparagus into 1-inch lengths and add them to the pot. Sweat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the potatoes and the stock. Taste for seasoning and add salt, if needed (it will). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
• On a separate burner, bring a small pot of well salted water to a boil over high heat. Have a small bowl of well salted ice water on standby. Cook the asparagus tips in the boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove them from the boiling water and plunge them immediately into the ice water. When the tips are cool, remove them from the water, pat dry and reserve.
• In a blender or with an immersion blender, puree the asparagus stock mixture. Strain through a mesh strainer, if desired. Taste and adjust the seasonings, if needed. Chill.
• Garnish with the reserved asparagus tips and crumbled goat cheese. Springtime delicious!

ASPARAGUS-FONTINA-PROSCIUTTO WRAPS

Steps:

• Saute or grill the asparagus until slightly tender. Let cool. Wrap each stalk with a slice of fontina and the prosciutto. Serve with an Aioli dipping sauce.
• Place the egg yolk, lemon juice, garlic, and salt into a food processor. Process until well blended. With the machine running, pour in the olive oil in a steady stream and process until the mixture thickens. Scrape into a bowl and squeeze a few more drops of lemon juice over the top, stir and set aside.

FRITTATA WITH ASPARAGUS, TOMATO, AND FONTINA

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Whisk the eggs, cream, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a medium bowl to blend. Set aside. Heat the oil and butter in a 9 1/2-inch-diameter nonstick ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add the asparagus and saute until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Raise the heat to medium-high. Add the tomato and a pinch of salt and saute 2 minutes longer. Pour the egg mixture over the asparagus mixture and cook for a few minutes until the eggs start to set. Sprinkle with cheese. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the frittata is almost set but the top is still runny, about 2 minutes. Place the skillet under the broiler. Broil until the top is set and golden brown on top, about 5 minutes. Let the frittata stand 2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, loosen the frittata from skillet and slide the frittata onto a plate.

CHEESY CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Prepare asparagus according to package directions; drain and set aside. In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Cool slightly., Pour half the milk mixture into a blender; add half the asparagus. Cover and process until very smooth; return soup to the saucepan. Repeat with the remaining milk mixture and asparagus. Stir in the cheese, hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper; heat through (do not boil). If desired, top with roasted asparagus tips.

ASPARAGUS AND CHEESE POPOVER WITH SPICY HERB OIL

Steps:

• For the oil: In a medium bowl, mix together the chiles, basil, mint and parsley. Add in the oil and season with salt and pepper.
• For the popover: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place a 10-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven to heat. Prepare an ice bath in a large bowl and line a plate with paper towels.
• Bring a pan of salted water to a boil, add the asparagus and cook until just tender, 1 to 2 minutes, depending on size. Drain, drop into the ice bath and dry on the prepared plate.
• Whisk together the eggs and milk until smooth. Slowly whisk in the flour and whisk until smooth. Sprinkle the egg mixture with some salt and pepper. Add 1/2 cup of the fontina cheese.
• Using pot holders, carefully remove the pan from the oven. Add the butter to the hot pan and stir until melted. Arrange the asparagus in the bottom of the pan and then season with salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture over the top. Bake until puffed and golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven. Sprinkle the remaining fontina and the Parmesan on top, and put it back in the oven until the cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the oven and drizzle with some of the herb oil. Serve immediately.

CANADIAN BACON, ASPARAGUS AND EGG GRATIN WITH FONTINA CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter 9-1/2" oval gratin pan.
• Melt 1 T. butter in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add asparagus, salt and pepper. Cook until asparagus begins to soften, about 4 minutes. Add bacon and stir 1 minute. Add 1/3 cup cream and pinch of cayenne pepper. Stir until heated through, 1 minute. Mix in mustard. Transfer to prepared pan.
• Make 4 nests in mixture, spacing evenly. Break egg into each nest. Drizzle 1 t. cream over each egg. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Bake until whites are beginning to set but are still runny, 12 minutes.
• Preheat broiler. Sprinkle cheese over dish. Immediately broil until melted and beginning to brown, about 30 seconds. Serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS, POACHED EGG, PROSCIUTTO AND FONTINA CHEESE

Steps:

• To roast the asparagus: Place the asparagus in a large bowl, drizzle the olive oil over it and sprinkle with the salt, tossing to coat.
• Scatter 16 of the thyme sprigs onto a baking sheet and lay the asparagus over them to cover.
• Roast in a preheated 450-degree oven for about 10 minutes, until tender to the touch but firm in the center.
• To grill the bread: Butter each side of each slice.
• In a pan over medium heat, lightly brown each side; remove to a plate and let cool just long enough to handle.
• Rub one side of each slice with the garlic clove, then place on a baking sheet, garlic side up.
• Arrange the asparagus evenly over the bread.
• To poach the eggs: Use Paula G's easy poaching method Recipe #118761, or in a medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil.
• Turn the heat down to just below a simmer and add the vinegar and salt.
• Crack an egg into a small bowl to check that the yolk isn't broken.
• Slowly stir the water in one direction to create a whirlpool effect.
• Once the whirlpool has slowed a little, carefully slide the egg into the water against the side of the pan, following the current of the water as you pour, so the white envelops the yolk.
• Repeat the process with each egg, poaching them for 2 to 2-1/2 minutes until the whites are set and the yolks are runny.
• Carefully remove them with a slotted spoon to a plate; cup the eggs with your hand and tip the plate to drain off the water.
• To assemble: Center an egg on top of the asparagus on each toast; drape a slice of the cheese over each egg.
• Heat the sandwiches under the broiler just until the cheese melts.
• Remove the sandwiches from the oven, rumple a slice of prosciutto over each, drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle with fresh pepper.
• Garnish with the remaining thyme; serve immediately.

CHEESY ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• In a large kettle, cook asparagus and onion in a small amount of water until tender. Drain liquid. Add all remaining ingredients; heat over medium until the cheese is melted and the soup is hot.

CHEDDAR ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat.
• Add onion and celery and cook, stirring, until tender but not browned, about 8 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low, add flour and cook, stirring frequently, until frothy, about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Blend in chicken stock and bay leaf; reduce heat to medium-low.
• Add Sherry,hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire, dry mustard, and freshly ground pepper to taste and simmer 20 minutes.
• Add asparagus and continue cooking until tender, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in cheese and parsley and cook until cheese is melted, 5 to 10 more minutes.
• Ladle soup into heated bowls and serve immediately.

FONTINA ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large skillet, bring 1 in. of water to a boil; add asparagus. Cook, covered, until crisp-tender, 3-5 minutes. Drain and pat dry., On a lightly floured surface, roll pastry sheet into a 16x12-in. rectangle. Transfer to a parchment-lined large baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes., Sprinkle 1-1/2 cups cheese over pastry to within 1/2-in. of edges. Place asparagus over top; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Mix remaining ingredients; drizzle over top. Bake until cheese is melted, 10-15 minutes. Serve warm.

ASPARAGUS WITH FONTINA AND CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Clean and snap ends off of asparagus, Cook asparagus.
• While asparagus is cooking, prepare the sauce.
• Melt the butter in a medium-size skillet over medium heat.
• Add the cream and fontina cheese.
• Cook, stirring until the cheese melts and the cream has thickened and reduced by half--1 to 2 minutes.
• Season slightly with salt.
• Drain the asparagus and pat dry with paper towels.
• Place asparagus on platter, spoon on cream sauce, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve at once.

CHEF JOHN'S ASPARAGUS SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Cook asparagus in a saucepan of boiling water until bright green but still crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer asparagus to ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain and set aside.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour and stir until mixture becomes paste-like and light golden brown, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk milk into butter-flour mixture; bring to a simmer and cook until thick, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and cayenne pepper.
• Place milk mixture, garlic, and asparagus in a blender and puree until smooth.
• Pour asparagus mixture into a large bowl; stir in egg yolks and Cheddar cheese.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)
• Generously butter 4 (6-ounce) ramekins
• Beat egg whites in a large glass or metal mixing bowl until soft peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the egg whites will form soft mounds rather than a sharp peak
• Stir half of egg whites into asparagus cheese mixture until just combined. Gently fold remaining egg whites into mixture.
• Fill prepared ramekins about 3/4 full and place on a baking sheet; bake in the preheated oven until edges are golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes

ASPARAGUS AND PROSCIUTTO CROSTINI WITH FONDUTA

Steps:

• Make fonduta:
• In a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a pan of simmering water melt butter. Add Fontina and milk and heat, stirring with a whisk, until cheese begins to melt. Whisk in yolks and cook, stirring constantly with whisk, until smooth and thickened slightly, about 7 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat and remove bowl from pan. Stir sauce 1 minute while water in pan cools slightly. Return bowl to pan and keep sauce warm over hot water (off heat), whisking occasionally to eliminate skin that forms on surface.
• Preheat broiler.
• On a baking sheet toast bread about 3 inches from heat, turning, until golden, about 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Rub tops of crostini with cut side of garlic and brush with oil. Season crostini lightly with salt. Divide crostini among 4 plates and top with prosciutto.
• In a deep 10- to 12-inch skillet bring 1 1/4 inches salted water to a boil and cook asparagus until crisp-tender, about 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer asparagus with tongs to a colander and drain. Divide asparagus among crostini. Pour fonduta over them.

LEMON-ROASTED BROCCOLI AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place broccoli florets in a bowl. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil oil and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon pepper seasoning. Toss to coat and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place 1/2 of the lemon slices over the top of the broccoli.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile place asparagus in the bowl. Add remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon pepper. Toss to coat.
• Add asparagus to the baking sheet in a single layer and place remaining lemon slices over the top of the asparagus. Cook for 10 minutes. Remove baking sheet from the oven and toss broccoli and asparagus together. Serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS CHEESE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add asparagus and heat through. Add the cheese, thyme and nutmeg. Cook until cheese is melted, stirring frequently (do not boil). Garnish with croutons and additional cheese if desired.

BRUSCHETTA WITH FONTINA AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat grill or broiler. Grill bread slices until golden on both sides. Rub one side with garlic; brush lightly with oil.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat; add salt generously. Add asparagus, and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Drain asparagus, and set aside.
• Place toasted bread on a baking sheet, and sprinkle fontina evenly over slices. Arrange about 3 to 4 asparagus spears on top of each. Sprinkle Parmesan over asparagus, dividing evenly.
• Bake until cheese has melted, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and drizzle with truffle oil, if using.