Asparagus Pear Salad Food

ASPARAGUS & PEAR SALAD

Steps:

• In a large skillet, bring 1/2 in. of water to a boil. Add asparagus; cover and boil for 3-5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water. Drain and pat dry; cut into 1/2-in. pieces and set aside., In a large bowl, combine pear and lemon juice. Add the onions, walnuts and reserved asparagus; drizzle with dressing and toss to coat. Arrange lettuce on four salad plates; top with asparagus mixture. Serve immediately.

PEAR AND FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar with 1/2 teaspoon crushed anise seed, salt and pepper in a serving bowl, then slowly whisk in 1/3 cup olive oil. Add 1 thinly sliced fennel bulb, 2 thinly sliced pears and some parsley; season with salt and pepper and toss. Top with shaved pecorino.

ASPARAGUS-FENNEL SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the asparagus and cook until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Drain and transfer to a bowl of ice water to cool, then drain and pat dry.
• Meanwhile, make the dressing: Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, fennel fronds, parsley, tarragon, lemon juice, anchovies, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a mini food processor. Process until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Combine the asparagus, sliced fennel, Boston lettuce, mixed greens, peas, celery and pistachios in a large bowl. Just before serving, drizzle with the dressing, season with salt and pepper and toss.

BALSAMIC PEAR, CHICKEN, AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken in the hot oil until completely browned, 3 to 5 minutes; transfer to a slow cooker. Add the onion to the chicken; season with salt and pepper. Place the pears and asparagus atop the chicken mixture.
• Mix the garlic, balsamic vinegar, apple juice, rosemary, ginger, and sugar together in a bowl; pour over the asparagus. Season again with salt and pepper.
• Cook on Low for 4 to 6 hours.

ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH SWEET BALSAMIC VINEGAR

Steps:

• Boil vinegar in heavy small saucepan over medium heat until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Pour vinegar into large bowl. Whisk in oil, mustard, marjoram and garlic. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cook asparagus in large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain; rinse with cold water and drain again. Add asparagus and bell pepper to dressing; toss to blend well. Sprinkle with pecans and serve.

PEAR AND NUT SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk together in a small bowl, half the blue cheese with the cream cheese and milk until well combined. If you find the dressing too thick add a little more milk. May be made ahead and refrigerated. (If you buy the crumbled blue cheese you will need a 175g package).
• Place 1 cup of the mesclun mix on individual salad plates.
• Cut pears in half, remove core and cut into wedges.
• Arrange pears on top of greens.
• Drizzle dressing over pears. Top with remaining blue cheese, nuts and pepper.

PEAR AND BLUE CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Place salad in a large bowl.
• Top with onion, pear, pecans and blue cheese. Toss until combined.
• Place all dressing ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
• Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat, or serve on the side.

BEETROOT, FETA & ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• The day before: make the dressing. Put the oregano or marjoram, a pinch of salt and the garlic into a food processor and pulse to a paste. Add the lemon juice and whizz until smooth. Stir in the olive oil and season - it should be sharp and a bit salty.Cover and chill.
• Two hours before serving: bring a pan of salted water to the boil, add the asparagus and cook for 3 minutes. Drain and cool under the cold tap. Cover and keep cool.
• Put the beetroot in a large bowl and toss with twothirds of the dressing. Add the lemon zest and spring onions, cover and keep at cool room temperature with the remaining dressing.
• To serve: add the watercress to the beetroot and tear in the basil. Toss in the asparagus and season with freshly ground black pepper. Taste before adding salt as the cheese is quite salty.Mix lightly, so you don't dye everything pink, then pile into a serving dish. Crumble over the cheese and pour the remaining dressing on top.

ASPARAGUS AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until beginning to smoke; add red pepper and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes, stirring only once after 1 minute. Add asparagus, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; cook until asparagus is browned and almost tender, about 2 minutes, stirring only once after 1 minute. Stir in shallot and cook until softened and asparagus is tender-crisp, about 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Transfer to large plate and cool 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk remaining 4 tablespoons oil, vinegar, garlic, 1/4-teaspoon salt, and 1/8-teaspoon pepper in medium bowl until combined. In large bowl, toss spinach with 2 tablespoons dressing and divide among salad plates. Toss asparagus mixture with remaining dressing and place a portion over spinach; divide goat cheese among salads and serve.