Chilled Lemon Scented Asparagus Food

CHILLED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMONY GARLIC DRESSING

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together first five ingredients until smooth.
• Cover and chill until serving time.
• Boil asparagus for 5 minutes (until crisp-tender).
• Drain (I've served this dish hot by tossing the asparagus in the pan with the dressing and heating for 1-2 minutes at this point).
• Rinse with cold water and drain again.
• Cover and chill until serving time.
• To serve, gently toss asparagus spears with dressing.
• Sprinkle lightly with poppy seeds, if desired.

LEMON ORZO

Steps:

• Simmer 1 cup orzo in a saucepan with 2 1/2 cups water, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon dried mint, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon paprika and 2 strips lemon zest, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool slightly. Stir in 2 chopped scallions, the juice of 1 lemon, and salt to taste.

GRILLED SCALLOPS WITH ORANGE-SCENTED QUINOA

Steps:

• For the quinoa: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water, the quinoa, orange zest and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pan and cook until all the liquid has been absorbed, 10 to 12 minutes. Fluff with a fork, cover the pan and let the quinoa sit for 10 to 12 more minutes.
• For the scallops: Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Spray with cooking spray. Thread 3 scallops onto a skewer. Thread another skewer (alongside the first) through the scallops about 1/2-inch apart to make flipping the skewers easier. Repeat with the remaining scallops and skewers to make 6 skewers in total. Drizzle with the olive oil and season with 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Grill until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• For the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, orange juice, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until smooth.
• Place the quinoa in a large serving bowl. Add the dressing, beans and parsley. Toss until coated. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange the grilled scallops on top and serve.

CHILLED ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• I like asparagus al dente, slightly crunchy. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot over medium heat. Add salt until it tastes like mild seawater. How will you know? Take a little water with a spoon and taste it, then add the sugar.
• Prepare an ice bath by filling a bowl, large enough to hold the asparagus, with cold water. Add some ice cubes. Plunge the asparagus into the ice bath before cooking. This will help to bring any limp stalks back to life. Remove from the ice bath, plunge them into the boiling water and allow them to cook, 2 to 3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the water, transferring them immediately to the same ice bath. Allow them to sit in the ice bath for a few minutes, swirling them gently in the water to assure they are all cooling quickly in the cold water.
• The most important step for this dish? Drying the stalks once they are removed from the ice bath. Taking care that no water gets into the final salad is the best way to assure that the maximum flavor will be enjoyed! Transfer the asparagus to a large plate or platter lined with a kitchen towel and refrigerate.
• In a medium bowl, combine the lemon juice, white wine vinegar, honey and mustard. Stir to blend. Whisk in the olive oil in an even, steady stream. When all of the oil has been integrated, taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed.
• When ready to serve, remove the kitchen towel from the asparagus and simply toss the asparagus in the dressing to coat them completely. Arrange the stalks on plates and serve.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan; season with 2 teaspoons salt. Add asparagus tips and blanch until bright green and just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to an ice bath with a slotted spoon; reserve for topping. Add trimmings, 1/2 shallot and 1/2 clove garlic to the same pot and return to a boil; reduce heat and simmer the asparagus stock 20 to 25 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
• In another saucepan, heat olive oil over medium. Add sliced shallot and chopped garlic and cook until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in potato and enough of the asparagus stock to cover the vegetables (about 1 cup), and simmer until the potato is tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Strain remaining asparagus stock directly into saucepan with the potatoes. Add remaining asparagus and cook until tender and bright green, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Puree in a blender until completely smooth; remove 1 cup and reserve. Slowly stir in cream, and season to taste with salt and pepper; thin with reserved liquid as needed. Serve hot or chilled, topped with asparagus tips and a drizzle of oil.

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS-LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• Snap the tough butt ends off the asparagus or peel to the tender core.
• Cut the stmes into 1" pieces.
• Reserve the asparagus tips Bring 5-6 qts water to rolling boil, add 2-3 Tbs salt, and cook asparagus stems for 6-8 minutes until soft and totally tender.
• Remove stems with slotted spoon, refresh in cold water, and drain Cook the tips in the boiling water for 3-5 minutes until tender, remove with a slotted spoon, refresh in cold wate, and drain.
• Reserve asparagus cooking water.
• Puree the stems in a food processor with lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil, 1/2 cup asparagus cookign water, and salt and pepper to taste; transfer the sauce to a 3 qt pot.
• Return the remaining asparagus cooking water to a rolling boil, add the pasta, and cook until it still offers considerable resistance to the tooth, around three quarters of the recommended cooking time.
• Drain, reserving 2 cups of pasta water.
• Add pasta, asparagus tips, and 1/2 cup starchy water to asparagus stem puree and cook ina 3 qt pot over highest heat, stirring for 3-5 minutes until pasta is almost cooked and sauce coats pasta.
• Add more pasta water, 1/4 cup at a time, if sauce becomes too dry.
• Sauce should surround pasta but be slightly liquid since cheese will thicken it.
• Add the grated Parmigiano, heat for an additional minute to melt the cheese and serve immediately.

CHILLED MARINATED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, oil, lemon juice and garlic powder. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Refrigerate until cool. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, bring 1/2 in. of water to a boil. Add asparagus. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 3-5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and rinse in cold water.
• Place asparagus in a large resealable plastic bag; add marinade. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight, turning occasionally. Drain and discard marinade. Place asparagus on a serving plate; sprinkle with pecans.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP (CRèME D'ASPERGES)

Steps:

• Cut tips from 12 asparagus 1 1/2 inches from top and halve tips lengthwise if thick. Reserve for garnish.
• Cut stalks and all remaining asparagus into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Cook onion in 2 tablespoons butter in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened. Add asparagus pieces and salt and pepper to taste, then cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Add 5 cups broth and simmer, covered, until asparagus is very tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• While soup simmers, cook reserved asparagus tips in boiling salted water until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes, then drain.
• Purée soup in batches in a blender until smooth, transferring to a bowl (use caution when blending hot liquids), and return to pan. Stir in crème fraîche, then add more broth to thin soup to desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Bring soup to a boil and whisk in remaining tablespoon butter.
• Add lemon juice and garnish with asparagus tips.

SMOKED SALMON & LEMON RISOTTO

Steps:

• Fry the onion in the oil for 5 mins. Add the rice and garlic, then cook for 2 mins, stirring continuously. Pour in a third of the stock and set the timer to 20 mins. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the stock has been absorbed, then add half the rest of the stock and carry on cooking, stirring a bit more frequently, until that has been absorbed.
• Pour in the last of the stock, stir, then simmer until cooked and creamy. Take from the heat and add the chopped salmon, mascarpone, parsley and lemon zest. Grind in some black pepper, but don't add salt as the salmon will be salty enough. Leave for 5 mins to settle, then taste and add a little lemon juice if you like. Serve topped with reserved salmon (roughly torn) and some rocket.

LEMON RICOTTA PANCAKES

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Heat a griddle or large nonstick pan or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet over medium-low.
• Add the sugar to a large bowl, then finely grate the zest of the lemon directly over the sugar. Using your fingers, gently rub the zest into the sugar. Add the vanilla and whisk to evenly moisten. Add the eggs and whisk until foamy on top, then add the ricotta, buttermilk and butter, and whisk until well blended. Add the flour mixture and gently stir until no traces of flour remain.
• Generously butter the griddle, then drop a scant 1/4 cup batter onto it. Repeat, spacing the rounds at least an inch apart. Cook until the bottoms are golden brown and the tops are bubbling, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook until the other sides are golden brown, about 2 minutes more. Repeat with more butter and the remaining batter. Serve warm, slathered with butter and blueberry syrup or other toppings if you'd like.

LEMON-SCENTED BROCCOLINI

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add broccolini; cook, uncovered, until just tender, 5-7 minutes. Drain and immediately place broccolini in ice water. Drain and pat dry., In a large skillet, melt butter. Stir in the lemon juice, lemon-pepper, lemon zest and salt. Add broccolini; toss until heated through.

LEMON-SCENTED BROCCOLI

Steps:

• In a small skillet, saute pecans in butter until golden brown; set aside. Place broccoli in a large saucepan; add 1 in. of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 5-8 minutes or until crisp-tender. , Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, broth and lemon juice until smooth. Cook and stir over medium heat for 1 minute or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in the lemon zest and pepper. Drain broccoli and place in a serving bowl; top with lemon sauce and pecans.

EASY-PEASY CHILLED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Cut Asparagus approximately 3 inches off the ends.
• Steam until cooked but still somewhat firm.
• Drain water.
• While still warm,drizzle bottle dressing over top.
• Let it cool for a few minutes .
• Slice lemon into thin slices.
• Arrange Asparagus decoratively on platter with lemon slices and chopped parsley.
• Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.

LEMON ROASTED SPRING CHICKEN WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Arrange the chicken pieces, onion wedges, garlic, lemon slices, asparagus and peas in a roasting tin in a single layer, then sprinkle over the oregano, drizzle with the olive oil and pour over the stock. Give everything a good stir to mix well, then dot the butter over the chicken pieces and season well. Cover the whole tin with foil and bake for 30 mins.
• Remove the foil and bake for 20-30 mins more until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear, and the vegetables are tender.
• Heat the grill to high. Put the tin under the grill for a few minutes to crisp up the chicken skin, if needed, being careful not to let the asparagus catch. Serve straight from the tin, or on a platter, with crusty bread to mop up the juices.

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.