Asparagus Soup With Herbed Goat Cheese Food

ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add flour and stir 2 minutes. Gradually mix in canned chicken broth. Bring mixture to boil. Add asparagus pieces and summer savory and simmer until asparagus is very tender, about 25 minutes. Cool slightly.
• Drain asparagus, reserving cooking liquid. Puree asparagus in food processor. With machine running, Gradually add 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Return mixture to saucepan. Season with salt and pepper. (Soup can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Bring soup to simmer. Ladle into bowls. Top with dollops of sour cream or yogurt, if desired.

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 WITH GOAT CHEESE AND HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, mustard, vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon salt until smooth and emulsified.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Sprinkle generously with salt. Add the asparagus to the water and, depending on the size of the asparagus, blanch for 3 to 5 minutes. It should still have some bite left to it. Add the warm asparagus to the dressing and toss well to coat.
• Fan the asparagus out on a platter and sprinkle with the mizuna. Scatter the hazelnuts and goat cheese on top and drizzle with any dressing that may remain in the bowl.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Saute 1 chopped onion, 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon fresh thyme in 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium-high heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add 2 pounds asparagus (trimmed and chopped), 1 1/2 cups each water and chicken broth and a big pinch of salt. Simmer until tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Working in batches, puree in a blender. Return to the pot, whisk in 1/2 cup crème fraiche and warm through (do not boil). Season with salt and pepper. Top with more creme fraiche and chopped chives.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH HERB GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Arrange asparagus, side-by-side, on a baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil over asparagus; season with salt and pepper. Crumble goat cheese over asparagus.
• Roast in the preheated oven until cheese is slightly melted and asparagus are tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with 2 cups water and fit with a steamer basket. Bring to a boil. Add the asparagus and steam until tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the asparagus to a cutting board and pour the water from the pot into a large measuring cup; add more water if needed to equal 2 cups. Set the pot aside.
• When the asparagus is cool enough to handle, trim off the tips and halve lengthwise; toss with a pinch of salt. Save these pieces for garnish. Add the remaining asparagus pieces to a blender with 1 cup of the reserved steaming water and blend until very smooth.
• Melt the butter in the pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it begins to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds more. Sprinkle in the flour and stir to combine.
• Slowly whisk in the half-and-half and remaining 1 cup reserved steaming water until smooth. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and the coriander. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture starts to thicken, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stir in the asparagus puree. Taste and adjust the seasonings (add more salt if it needs it!) and let the soup heat through. Ladle into bowls and garnish with the asparagus tips. Season with pepper.

NAPOLEON OF BEETS AND HERB GOAT CHEESE WITH GRILLED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Cook beets in salted boiling water until tender, cool in refrigerator, and peel off skin. Soften goat cheese at room temperature, add in herbs, salt and pepper, and garlic; mix well and place in pastry bag. Slice beets into 1/8-inch thick on mandolin and place on plate, pipe goat cheese in between each layer of beets, repeat beet, goat, and top with beet. Garnish plate with asparagus that has been blanched, shocked, and grilled with olive oil. Top with red pepper, tomato, and drizzle with truffle oil.

ASPARAGUS, BACON AND GOAT CHEESE QUESADILLA

Steps:

• 1. Cook the bacon in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, about 8 to10 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and discard all the pan drippings.
• 2. Add 1 teaspoon butter and the shallots and cook until brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the asparagus to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the asparagus are bright green and tender; about 2 minutes. Set aside.
• 3. Spread a thin layer of cheese over a tortilla and scatter a quarter of the herbs on top. Place the tortilla cheese-side up in the skillet. Scatter a quarter of the bacon and asparagus on the lower half of the tortilla, then fold the tortilla over and press lightly. Cook until golden brown, turning once, about 3 minutes on each side. If the pan gets dry, add butter, as needed. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Cut quesadillas into wedges and serve.

ASPARAGUS W/ HERBED CHEESE ON TOAST

Steps:

• Snap off tough ends of asparagus; remove scales with a knife or vegetable peeler, if desired.
• Peel onion, leaving root intact; cut onion into 6 wedges.
• Drop asparagus and onion wedges into a large saucepan of boiling water; cook 3 minutes.
• Drain and plunge into ice water; drain well.
• Pat dry with a paper towel; set aside.
• Combine ricotta cheese, fresh thyme, chives, and chervil in a bowl; stir well, and set aside.
• Cut bread crosswise into 6 (1-inch-thick) slices; reserve remaining bread for another use.
• Spread butter evenly over 1 side of each bread slice.
• Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray, and place over medium heat until hot.
• Arrange half of bread slices, buttered sides down, in skillet, and cook 2 minutes or until browned.
• Remove bread slices from skillet, and set aside.
• Repeat procedure with remaining bread slices.
• Cut each toasted bread slice into 6 triangles.
• Spread cheese mixture evenly over toasted side of triangles, and set aside.
• Recoat skillet with cooking spray; add olive oil, and place over medium heat until hot.
• Add asparagus, onion, salt, and pepper; sauté for 4 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Serve with toast triangles.
• Garnish with parsley sprigs.

ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Microwave onion and butter on HIGH for 2 minutes. Add asparagus, vegetable broth, garlic powder and white pepper. Microwave, covered, on HIGH for 10 to 12 minutes. Puree in blender.
• Return mixture to microwave safe dish, stir in milk and microwave until heated through.

ASPARAGUS WITH GOAT CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Add asparagus to boiling water and cook until crisp tender, approx 2-4 minutes.
• Combine remaining ingredients, pour over asparagus.

ASPARAGUS WITH HERBED GOAT CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Bring water in the bottom of a steamer to a boil. Place the asparagus in the top of the steamer, cover, and steam until the asparagus is tender but not soft, about 11 minutes.
• 2. Whisk the goat cheese until it is light. Whisk in the olive oil until thoroughly incorporated and smooth.
• 3. Mince the herbs, and whisk them into the goat cheese mixture. Season to taste with salt.