Chargrilled Asparagus Cour Food

CHARGRILLED ASPARAGUS & SPRING ONIONS WITH CHIVE FLOWERS

Steps:

• Heat a griddle pan over a very high heat and add the olive oil - place the asparagus spears & spring onions in the pan, being careful that the oil does not spit and burn you.
• Cook for 2 to 4 minutes on one side, depending on the thickness and then turn over and continue to cook for a further 2 to 4 minutes. You are aiming for charred, but not burnt!
• Just before the end add the Balsamic vinegar and a little more oil if needed.
• Serve straight away with chopped fresh chives and chive flowers sprinkled over the top, and a lemon wedge per serving.

CHARGRILLED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Remove woody ends of asparagus.
• Toss asparagus in a bowl with olive oil.
• Heat a griddle, or barbeque and cook the asparagus for about 10 minutes, until al dente.
• Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with parmesan shavings to serve.

CHARGRILLED ASPARAGUS, COURGETTES AND MANOURI

Steps:

• Start with the tomatoes. Preheat the oven to 350°F Mix the tomatoes with 3 tbsps of the olive oil and season with some salt and pepper. Spread them out on a baking tray lined with baking parchment, skin side down. Roast in the oven for 40-50 minutes, or until semi-dried. You can leave them there a bit more or a bit less, depending on how dry you like them. They will be delicious anyway. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.
• Trim the woody bases of the asparagus and blanch for 4 minutes in plenty of boiling water. Drain and refresh under cold water, making sure the spears are completely cold. Drain well again, then transfer to a mixing bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons of the remaining olive oil and some salt and pepper.
• Slice the zucchinis very thinly lengthwise, using a mandolin or a vegetable peeler. Mix with 1 tbsp of the olive oil and some salt and pepper.
• Place a ridged griddle pan on a high heat and leave there for a few minutes. It should be very hot. Grill the zucchinis and asparagus, turning them over after about a minute. You want to get nice char marks on all sides. Remove and leave to cool.
• Heat the remaining 3 tbsp of olive oil in a pan. Fry the manouri cheese for 3 minutes on each side or until it is golden. Place on kitchen paper to soak up excess oil. Alternatively, chargrill the cheese on the hot griddle pan for about 2 minutes on each side.
• To make the basil oil, blitz all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. You might need to double the quantity for some blender blades to be effective. Keep any extra oil for future salads.
• To assemble, arrange the rocket, vegetables and cheese in layers on a flat serving plate. Try to build the salad up whilst showing all the individual components. Drizzle with as much basil oil as you like and serve.

ASPARAGUS & COURGETTE SALAD WITH FETA & SESAME SEEDS

Steps:

• Heat a small frying pan and add the sesame seeds. Cook, shaking the pan and making sure the seeds don't burn. When they are fragrant and have turned a light teak colour, tip them onto a saucer.
• Steam the asparagus for 3-4 mins until almost done. Drop into a bowl of iced water to cool, then drain and wrap in a tea towel to dry really well. Cook the peas for 3 mins in the boiling water used to steam the asparagus, then drain and cool under a cold tap. Slice the courgettes on the diagonal, about 0.5cm thick.
• Heat a griddle pan until very hot. Brush the asparagus and courgette slices with the oil, and cook in batches until nicely striped with dark brown. Cut the asparagus into 5cm lengths.
• Mix the asparagus, courgettes, peas, rocket, feta and lemon zest. Grind over some black pepper and sprinkle with the sesame seeds before serving.

GRIDDLED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Cut (or break) off the woody ends from the asparagus. Boil the spears in a large pan of salted water for 3 minutes. Drain, then plunge the spears into ice-cold water to stop the cooking and set the colour. Pat the asparagus dry.
• Oil the spears lightly. Leave a large cast-iron griddle over a high heat until it's very hot, then arrange the spears on it in a single layer. (You may have to griddle the asparagus in two batches.) Reduce the heat to medium and cook the spears for 3-4 minutes. Turn them with tongs and cook for a few more minutes, or until the spears are tender to the point of a knife and lightly gilded.
• Transfer the asparagus to a serving platter and sprinkle on a few drops of balsamic vinegar. Serve while still hot, although the spears will also taste very good at room temperature.
• To get ahead, you can prepare the asparagus to the end of step 1 and keep refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

CHAR-GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH EGG SAUCE

Steps:

• Hard-boil the eggs and chop. Chop the olives roughly. Chop the gherkins.
• Cut off the ends of the asparagus and put in a shallow bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; rub so all stalks are well coated with the oil/salt/pepper mixture.
• Toss eggs, olives, gherkins, capers, olive oil in a bowl and use a fork to mix. Season with lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste.
• Heat griddle on medium heat; gently cook the asparagus until soft and lightly coloured. Serve with the sauce.