Creamy Asparagus Souffle Food

ASPARAGUS SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine asparagus, cheese, mayonnaise and onion. In a small bowl, beat egg white on medium speed until soft peaks form. Fold into asparagus mixture. , Transfer to a greased 2-1/2-cup baking dish. Bake, uncovered, 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Fill a medium bowl with salted ice water. Working in 2 batches, add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook until just tender, about 4 minutes per batch. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the asparagus to the bowl of ice water. Drain. Reserve 7 1/2 cups of the cooking liquid.
• Thinly slice 18 of the asparagus tips on the diagonal and reserve for a garnishing the soup. Chop the remaining asparagus spears into small pieces.
• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and carrots and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 12 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 2 minutes more.
• Pour in the reserved asparagus cooking liquid and bring to a boil while whisking constantly. Tie the parsley, thyme, and bay leaf together with a piece of kitchen twine and add to the soup. Lower the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the chopped asparagus and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• Remove and discard the herb bundle. Working in batches, transfer the asparagus mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Using a sieve over a large bowl, strain the asparagus soup. Return the puree to the pot and reheat over medium heat.
• Whisk the heavy cream, vermouth, and salt into the soup and season with pepper. Divide among warm soup bowls, sprinkle each soup with the reserved asparagus tips, and serve immediately.

CREAMY ASPARAGUS "SOUFFLE"

Steps:

• Reserve 6 asparagus tips for garnishing.
• Trim asparagus, remove the thorns and cut into pieces.
• Melt butter in a saucier or skillet and saute asparagus, including reserved tips, and shallots until tender.
• Remove tips for garnish and set aside.
• Whisk in flour and cook for 45-50 seconds.
• Add cream to pan, simmer for 5 minutes.
• Transfer to a blender or food processor, or use a stick blender in the saucier.
• Add eggs and seasonings, then puree mixture.
• Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
• Pour into 6 lightly buttered 1 cup ramekins.
• Stand ramekins in a water bath of boiling water in a baking pan (13 X 9).
• Bake at 325°F for 15 to 20 minutes or until slightly set.
• Place reserved tips on top of each souflle, pressing it in slightly.
• If planning to unmold these souflles, do not garnish until they are turned out of the ramekins.
• Continue baking for 10 to 15 more minutes, till just barely starting to brown at the edges. A thin knife blade should come out clean.
• Cool slightly.
• Serve hot or cold.
• These can be left in the ramekins, or unmolded.
• To unmold, let the souflles cool for 5 to 10 minutes, run a thin knife blade around the sides and turn out onto a plate or platter.
• Place the reserved asparagus tips on top of each souflle.

ASPARAGUS AND CHEESE SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, squash, and asparagus and cook, stirring, until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the pepper strips and scallions. Transfer to a bowl and let cool.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir in the cheeses and the cooled vegetables.
• Spray the loaf pan with vegetable oil spray, line the bottom with a piece of parchment paper, and spray again.
• Pour the egg mixture into the prepared pan, and top with another piece of vegetable oil sprayed parchment paper. Place the pan in a larger baking dish and place on the center oven rack. Pour enough hot water into the baking dish to reach halfway up the loaf pan. Bake until the center is firm and a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
• Remove the souffle from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Run a butter knife around the edges of the pan to release the souffle. Turn the souffle out onto a cutting board and remove the parchment paper. Cut the souffle into 8 slices and serve hot or at room temperature.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Saute 1 chopped onion, 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon fresh thyme in 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium-high heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add 2 pounds asparagus (trimmed and chopped), 1 1/2 cups each water and chicken broth and a big pinch of salt. Simmer until tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Working in batches, puree in a blender. Return to the pot, whisk in 1/2 cup crème fraiche and warm through (do not boil). Season with salt and pepper. Top with more creme fraiche and chopped chives.

SOUFFLéD CRAB & ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Roll out pastry and line a 25cm tart tin. Line the case with greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans. Bake for 15 mins, then remove paper and beans and cook for 5 mins more. Trim off excess pastry. Reduce oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5.
• Melt the butter in a non-stick pan, stir in the flour and cook for 1 min. Gradually add the milk, stirring all the time until the sauce is smooth and glossy. Add nutmeg, chilli and salt and leave to cool slightly.
• Flake up the crabmeat and add to the sauce. Blanch the asparagus for 3 mins, drain well and cool under cold running water. Pat dry with kitchen paper and scatter over the pastry case.
• Stir the egg yolks into the sauce. Whisk the whites until stiff, then fold into the sauce in 3 batches. Spoon into the tart case and sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake for 30-35 mins until puffed and golden.

CHEF JOHN'S CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add minced onion and salt; cook and stir until onion is soft and golden, about 10 minutes.
• Pour chicken broth and water into pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer 15 minutes.
• Place asparagus pieces in simmering broth. Cook, stirring occasionally until asparagus is just tender and still bright green, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Use an immersion blender to blend soup until smooth, about 3 minutes.
• For a finer texture, strain soup through mesh strainer. Return strained soup to pot and place on stove.
• Turn heat to low. Season with cayenne pepper, black pepper, and nutmeg. Adjust salt to taste. Whisk 1/2 cup cream into soup.
• Place 1/4 cup cream, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and lemon zest in a small bowl. Whisk until frothy and slightly thickened, about 1 minute.
• Ladle soup into bowls. Drizzle a spoonful of Parmigiano-Reggiano-lemon cream on top of each serving and swirl to form a random design.
• Sprinkle with a pinch of lemon zest and cayenne pepper, if desired.

ASPARAGUS-SWISS SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F Spray a 1-1/2 quart souffle dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat, add the onion and saute for 5 minutes or until soft. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper and cook for 2 minutes or until bubbly. Add the milk and cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Add the cheese and stir until melted.
• In a small bowl, whisk the egg substitute (or the whole eggs). Whisk in a little (about 1/4 cup) of the hot cheese sauce, then return this egg mixture to the saucepan and whisk until well blended. Remove from the heat and fold in the drained asparagus.
• In a medium-sized bowl, using an electric mixer set on high, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold the hot cheese sauce into the whites, then spoon into the souffle dish.
• Place the souffle on a baking sheet and bake for 50 mintues or until golden brown and puffy.

CREAMY ASPARAGUS PUFFS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and line a baking tray with parchment. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the pastry to a large square measuring about 30 x 30cm, then cut into 4 squares, each measuring 15 x 15cm.
• Spread a quarter of the cream cheese onto each square, leaving roughly 1cm space around the edges. Wrap a slice of ham around 4-5 asparagus spears. lay the bundle on top of the cream cheese, season, then brush the edges of the pastry with a little beaten egg.
• Loosely wrap two edges of the square to meet over the asparagus bundle, ensuring you have the top and bottom of the asparagus showing. Brush the pastry with beaten egg and place on the baking tray. Bake for 20-25 mins until the pastry is cooked, golden and puffed, and the asparagus is tender. Serve immediately with a crisp seasonal salad.

ASPARAGUS SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Blend butter and flour, add milk gradually and cook slowly until thickened, stirring constantly.
• Beat egg yolks until thick and lemon colored, add asparagus and salt and add to sauce.
• Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into asparagus mixture, pour into greased casserole, set in pan of hot water and bake 325 deg. F about 45 minutes.