Asparagus With Toasted Sesame Aioli Food

ROASTED SESAME ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Rinse asparagus and pat dry.
• Place on jelly roll pan or a pan with sides.
• Drizzle sesame oil onto asparagus, tossing to coat, then sprinkle with kosher salt.
• Roast for 10 - 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus. I like the ends to be a little crispy.

ASPARAGUS WITH ROASTED-GARLIC AïOLI

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
• Cut off and discard tops of garlic heads to expose cloves, then brush each head with 1/2 tablespoon oil. Wrap heads together in foil and bake until tender, about 45 minutes. Cool to warm.
• Squeeze garlic from skins into a food processor and purée with mayonnaise, vinegar, pepper, and salt. Transfer aioli to a bowl and stir in chives.
• Peel lower two thirds of each asparagus stalk with a vegetable peeler. Cook asparagus in a wide 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well in a colander and rinse under cold water until asparagus is cool. Drain and pat dry with paper towels. Serve asparagus with roasted-garlic aioli.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH A SESAME VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Trim the tough ends off the asparagus. Lay the spears on a baking tray lined with aluminum foil or Silpat, and drizzle the sesame and olive oils over. Salt lightly. Roll the spears over to coat all sides. Put the pan in a preheated 475° oven, and roast the asparagus for 12 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the vinaigrette, and when the asparagus is done, pour some of it over the spears.
• If you have leftover asparagus, try making what, according to the food writer David Nussbaum, the natives in Massachusetts-in the Connecticut River Valley, where asparagus is grown-call a BLA: a bacon, lettuce, and asparagus sandwich with mayonnaise. It's delicious.

ASPARAGUS WITH SESAME SEEDS

Steps:

• Place the asparagus in a steamer basket; place in a saucepan over 1 in. of water. Bring to a boil; cover and steam for 4-5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Transfer to a serving dish. Combine the water, soy sauce, oil, salt and pepper; drizzle over asparagus. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

ASPARAGUS WITH TOASTED SESAME AIOLI

Steps:

• Steam the asparagus in a covered steamer over boiling water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes.
• Or, put the asparagus in a microwave-proof dish; add about 2 tablespoons water.
• Cover tightly and microwave on high for about 3 minutes, or until crisp-tender.
• Drain well.
• Rinse with cold water and drain again.
• Meanwhile, make the aioli:.
• Stir together all the aioli ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.
• To serve, arrange the asparagus spears in a tall, clear glass container. Spoon the sauce into a radicchio leaf or small dish, garnish with sesame seeds, and place nearby for dipping.