Asparagus With Serrano Manchego Daisy Food

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spread pine nuts in a small baking pan and toast in the oven until golden and fragrant, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Transfer to a small bowl to cool.
• Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees.
• Snap off the tough ends of asparagus.
• Toss the asparagus with shallot, oil, 1/8 teaspoon salt and pepper.
• Spread in a single layer on a large baking sheet with sides.
• Roast, turning twice, until the asparagus is tender and browned, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring vinegar and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt to a simmer in a small skillet over medium-high heat.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, swirling the pan occasionally, until slightly syrupy and reduced to 1 tablespoon, about 5 minutes.
• To serve, toss the asparagus with the reduced vinegar and sprinkle with the pine nuts.

SAUTéED ASPARAGUS, TOASTED ALMONDS & MANCHEGO CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and plunge in the asparagus. Cook for 2-3 mins, drain, then leave them to sit somewhere warm.
• Next, put the butter into a cold pan with the almonds. Carefully heat it up, watching that the butter doesn't get too dark. When it just turns golden brown and is beginning to foam, remove from the heat and pour in the lemon juice to stop the cooking.
• Arrange the asparagus onto 6 serving plates and spoon over some of the brown butter and almonds. Shave the cheese with a peeler, scatter over and serve.

ASPARAGUS WITH SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Cook 1 bunch asparagus (trimmed and peeled) in salted boiling water until crisp-tender, 2 minutes. Drain and let cool, then pat dry. Wrap each spear with a slice of serrano ham. For the dip: Puree 1/2 cup mayonnaise with 1/4 cup roasted red peppers, 1/2 teaspoon sherry vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon hot smoked paprika.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WRAPPED IN SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet with canola oil spray.
• Lay a slice of ham on a work surface. Place a stalk of asparagus perpendicular to the ham, with the tip of the asparagus just higher than the top edge of the ham. Roll the asparagus on a diagonal, tightly wrapping the ham around the stalk as you go. (The ham should cover the entire stalk except for about an inch on the top and bottom ends.) Repeat with the remaining asparagus and ham.
• Place the asparagus, seam-side down, on the prepared baking sheet and lightly grease the tops with canola oil spray. Bake until the ham is crispy and the asparagus has softened and begun to char at the tips, about 15 minutes. Immediately pour the orange juice over the hot asparagus and season with salt. (The orange juice will almost completely evaporate on the hot baking sheet, but it will infuse the asparagus with orange flavor.)
• Transfer the asparagus to a serving plate and garnish with the orange zest. Serve immediately.

SPANISH ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH ORANGE AND MANCHEGO CHEESE

Steps:

• In large pot of lightly salted boiling water blanch the asparagus spears until green, about 2-3 minutes but no longer. Immediately drain and rinse with cold water to halt the cooking process.
• Peel the oranges and cut up into bite-size segments. Save one half of one orange for juicing and zesting.
• In a non-reactive small bowl, combine the olive oil, vinegar, orange zest and 1 tablespoon of orange juice. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk together and set aside.
• In a large salad bowl combine the cooked asparagus, red onion, orange segments, tomatoes, and lettuce. Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and mix gently to coat.
• Add shaved manchego to each salad serving if desired.
• Serve with crusty bread.

SERRANO HAM AND MANCHEGO CROQUETAS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl or in the food processor combine mashed potatoes, cheese, ham and eggs. Season with plenty of salt and freshly ground black pepper. The mixture should still be wet enough so the bread crumbs stick to the croquettas. Form into croquettas (makes about 2 dozen, medium-sized) and dip into panko bread crumbs, seasoned with salt and pepper. Pat lightly so the crumbs stick. Lay out on a tray, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before frying.
• To fry, heat 1-inch of vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or heavy bottomed pot, over medium heat to about 360 degrees F. Fry in small batches, turning once until evenly browned. Each batch should take approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season with kosher salt. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with chives and shaved manchego. Serve with Romesco Sauce.
• Toast almonds in a skillet over medium heat until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer almonds to a blender. Add roasted red peppers, egg yolk, garlic, zest, and season with salt and pepper. Pulse a few times to combine the ingredients. With the blender on low speed drizzle in the olive oil. Once it begins to emulsify, stop the blender and add the orange juice, and sherry vinegar. Buzz once more to fully emulsify.
• *RAW EGG WARNING
• Food Network Kitchens suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs. Due to the slight risk of Salmonella or other food-borne illness. To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly-refrigerated, clean, grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.

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

WHITE ASPARAGUS WITH SERRANO HAM & CHIVE DRESSING

Steps:

• Trim the asparagus, then peel the stems with a potato peeler. Boil in salted water for 12-15 mins until the spears are tender. Drain well.
• Whisk together the lemon juice, mustard and honey with some salt and pepper. Whisk in the oil, then stir in the chives just before serving.
• Divide the warm or cold asparagus between 4 plates. Lay the ham on top and drizzle over the dressing.

ASPARAGUS WITH SERRANO & MANCHEGO (DAISY)

Steps:

• Break asparagus to remove woody ends. Peels stalks up to about 1 in from top. Lay 2 deep in large skillet. Pour in 1/4 in water. Pour oil over asparagus & bring to a boil. Cook until the water has evaporated & asparagus begins to sizzle. Roll up ham & cut crosswise into ribbons. When asparagus is sizzling, sprinkle ham over asparagus & toss. Add salt On serving plate grate manchego over top to coat evenly.