Asparagus With Scallion Butter Food

SPRING PEA AND ASPARAGUS PASTA

Steps:

• First, prep your vegetables. Then bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the pasta for two minutes less than the package directions. Reserve 2 cups of the pasta water and drain the pasta.
• While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in your largest frying pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the shallots, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden brown (about 5 minutes).
• Add the asparagus and garlic, season with salt, and cook until the asparagus is knife-tender and bright green (about 3 minutes). Stir in the peas and cook until the peas are bright green (about 2 minutes).
• Add the drained pasta to the pan along with 1 cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss to coat. Cook until the sauce starts to coat the pasta (about 2 minutes). Remove the pan from heat and transfer its contents to a large serving bowl. Add the cheese and butter and stir to coat. (Add more pasta water as needed. The sauce should just cling to the pasta.)
• Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, herbs and pine nuts. Taste and adjust seasonings as required (add a pinch of salt, red pepper flakes and/or a squeeze of lemon juice if desired). Grate some cheese over the top and garnish with freshly ground black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve immediately.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS BUNDLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place asparagus and scallions on a baking sheet. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast 25 to 30 minutes, until tender. Wrap individual portions of asparagus with scallion to tie into bundles.

PENCIL-THIN ASPARAGUS AND SCALLIONS

Steps:

• In a kettle of boiling salted water cook asparagus until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Remove asparagus with tongs and immediately plunge into a bowl of ice and cold water. In water in kettle cook whole scallions until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Remove scallions with tongs and immediately plunge into bowl of ice and cold water. Drain asparagus and scallions on paper towels. Asparagus and scallions may be prepared up to this point 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled.
• In a large non-stick skillet sauté minced scallion in butter over moderately high heat until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in asparagus, whole scallions, and salt and pepper to taste and sauté, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes.

BUTTER-BRAISED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Snap off and discard the tough bottoms of the asparagus spears. If using large, thick asparagus, peel the lower ends with a vegetable peeler.
• Put butter in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus in one layer and season with salt and pepper. Add 1/2 cup water, cover, and bring to a simmer. Cook until the asparagus is firm-tender, about 3 minutes. Take care not to overcook them; they should still be bright green. (They will continue to cook a bit once the heat is off.) Remove the asparagus from the pan and place on a serving platter.
• Turn heat to high and simmer briskly until most of the liquid has evaporated, a minute or so. Add lemon juice and zest to the buttery juices. Turn off heat and stir in chives, parsley, tarragon and dill, if using. Check seasoning. Spoon the sauce over the asparagus, garnish with a few herb leaves, and serve.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS AND SCALLION SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a small pot of heavily salted water to a boil, stir in freekeh or farro, cover, and simmer until al dente, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together 2 teaspoons soy sauce, lime juice, garlic, and pinch salt and pepper. Drizzle in 3 tablespoons oil, whisking constantly.
• Drain freekeh and stir immediately into dressing while still warm.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Spread asparagus and scallions over a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle liberally with oil, 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce and a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss to combine, then arrange in a single layer. Roast until they start to char in spots, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly: The asparagus are best while still a little warm but not hot enough to wilt the greens.
• Toss salad greens in the bowl with freekeh and dressing until leaves are coated, and transfer to serving platter. Top with roasted asparagus and scallions, shave cheese over salad if you like, and serve.

ASPARAGUS WITH SCALLION BUTTER

Steps:

• In a kettle of boiling salted water cook the asparagus for 3 to 5 minutes, or until it is tender but not limp, and drain it well in a colander. In a small saucepan melt the butter, stir in the scallion, the zest, the peppercorns, and salt to taste, and simmer the mixture for 3 minutes. Strain the butter mixture through a fine sieve into the kettle, add the asparagus and salt and pepper to taste, and heat the asparagus over moderately high heat, tossing it gently, until it is heated through.

ASPARAGUS, GREEN PEA, AND SCALLION SAUCE

Steps:

• Rinse the asparagus, snap off the tough bottom stub of each spear (and save; see the recipe that follows). Slice each spear crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces; if the spear is fatter than 1/2 inch, slice it lengthwise in half or quarters. You want the asparagus pieces to be approximately pea-size. Slice the spears to make 4 cupfuls.
• Pour 1/4 cup of the oil into the skillet, set over medium-high heat, and stir in the onions. After a minute or two, when the onions are gently sizzling, stir in the leek pieces and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Cook for a minute, drop the peperoncino into a hot spot to toast briefly, then stir and cook until the leeks are hot and starting to wilt, 3 minutes or so.
• Dump in the green peas and stir with the other vegetables. Cover the pan, lower the heat, and let the vegetables cook, sizzling gently. Shake the pan frequently, uncover it occasionally, and adjust the heat as needed to make sure the onions aren't in danger of burning.
• After 6 minutes or more, when the onions are pale gold and the peas are softening, stir in the asparagus pieces and the scallions, then the butter and another 1/2 teaspoon salt. Pour in 1/3 cup of water, and stir well to moisten everything.
• Bring the sauce to a slow simmer and keep it cooking, very slowly, over low heat, for about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally, and add spoonfuls of water to the sauce if it seems to be getting dry. The vegetables should become very soft but still retain their shape and identity the sauce as a whole should be moist and thick. When it's reached this stage, turn off the heat, and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the shredded mint leaves.
• Use right away or let it cool. The sauce can be refrigerated for several days. If frozen, the texture will change but the flavor will be fine it will keep for several weeks.
• Good With . . .
• Both dry and fresh pastas
• Gnocchi
• As a topping for polenta
• As a base for risotto
• Potato, Leek, and Bacon Ravioli (page 186)

SKILLET-BAKED EGGS AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 300 degrees. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Add the asparagus and the scallions and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until asparagus is browned and tender.
• Whisk together the eggs, 4 tablespoons of the herbs, and cream. Whisk in Parmesan, salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture over asparagus and place the skillet in the oven.
• Bake for about 20 minutes, until set, but still slightly jiggly in the center. Cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before serving. It is best warm, not hot.
• Squeeze one or two lemon wedges over it, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt and remaining herbs. Cut into wedges.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS, BABY CARROTS, AND SCALLIONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
• On jellyroll pan, toss asparagus, carrots and scallions with oil, salt, rosemary and pepper.
• Roast until tender, about 20 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking time.

GRILLED HALIBUT AND ASPARAGUS WITH BARBECUE BUTTER

Steps:

• Using a rubber spatula, combine the oregano, scallion, butter, Neely's Barbecue Seasoning, orange zest, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cayenne. Transfer the seasoned butter onto a piece of plastic wrap. Using the plastic wrap as a shield for your hands, shape the butter into a log, wrap with the plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Heat the grill to medium-high. Brush the fish fillets on both sides with olive oil, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper; set aside.
• Brush the asparagus with oil and season with salt and black pepper. Grill the spears until they are tender, turning them once, about 6 minutes total.
• Grill the halibut fillets about 4 minutes per side, until the center of the fish is opaque and firm. Transfer the fish and asparagus to plates. Spread a generous tablespoon of the barbecue butter over the fish. Serve, passing additional barbecue butter alongside.

OVEN-ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Place asparagus in a 15x10x1-in. pan. Toss with melted butter and green onions; spread evenly. Sprinkle with salt., Roast until crisp-tender, 10-15 minutes.