Crisp Asparagus And Sweet Pea Salad With Poached Egg And Goats Curd Food

ASPARAGUS & SNAP PEA SALAD

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, bring 8 cups water to a boil. Add asparagus in batches; cook, uncovered, 2-4 minutes or just until crisp-tender. Remove asparagus and immediately drop into ice water. Drain and pat dry., In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients until blended. In a large bowl, combine asparagus, tomatoes, snap peas, red pepper and onion. Drizzle dressing over asparagus mixture; toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving., Just before serving, stir in cheese, walnuts and cherries.

ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH MARINATED PEAS AND LITTLE GEM LETTUCE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl combine peas, onion, lemon zest and juice, olive oil, 1 Tbsp. chives, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Cover; refrigerate 20 minutes or up to 3 days.
• Add asparagus and buttermilk to bowl with peas; toss to coat. Season with salt and black pepper.
• For poached eggs: In a large skillet bring 4 cups water and the vinegar to boiling; reduce heat to simmering. Break an egg into a cup; slip egg into simmering water. Repeat with remaining eggs, allowing each egg an equal amount of space. Simmer eggs, uncovered, 3 to 5 minutes or until whites are completely set and yolks begin to thicken but are not hard. Using a slotted spoon, remove eggs.
• Serve asparagus mixture over lettuce with poached eggs. Top with additional fresh chives. Serves 4.

ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH A RUNNY POACHED EGG

Steps:

• Pour the olive oil and vinegar into a small bowl, mix well and add the beetroot. Divide the mixed leaves and cucumber between 2 plates.
• Blanch the asparagus in a pan of simmering water for 2 mins, then remove and set aside. Crack the eggs into the pan and simmer gently for 3 mins until the whites are cooked and the yolks are just beginning to set, but still runny. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
• Meanwhile, add the beetroot to the salad plates, pour over the dressing and lightly toss together. Top each plate with asparagus and a poached egg to serve.

ASPARAGUS, HAM, AND POACHED EGG SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare a large bowl of ice water.
• Fill the pasta pot with 3 quarts of water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the coarse salt and the asparagus. Blanch, uncovered, until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. (Cooking time will vary according to the size and tenderness of the asparagus.) Immediately remove the colander from the water, letting the water drain from the asparagus. Plunge the asparagus into the ice water so they cool down as quickly as possible and retain their crispness and bright green color. (The asparagus will cool in 1 to 2 minutes. After that, they will soften and begin to lose crispness and flavor.) Drain the asparagus and wrap it in a thick kitchen towel to dry. (Do not cook the asparagus in advance or it will lose its crispness.)
• Break each egg into a ramekin or small cup. Set aside. In a large, shallow saucepan, bring 2 inches of water to a boil. Add the vinegar. One by one, bring the edge of a ramekin or cup level with the surface of the water and slide the egg in gently. Turn off the heat and cover the pan. Poach the eggs until the whites are firm but the yolks are still runny and are covered with a thin, translucent layer of white, about 3 minutes.
• With the sieve or slotted spoon, carefully lift the eggs from the water and transfer them to several thicknesses of paper towels.
• Place the salad greens and chives in a large salad bowl. Toss with just enough dressing to coat the greens lightly and evenly.
• Place the asparagus on a large plate and add just enough dressing to lightly coat the spears. Roll the asparagus in the dressing.
• Arrange the dressed greens at one side of each of 4 large dinner plates. (Rectangular plates are particularly beautiful here.) Carefully place a poached egg alongside. Arrange 4 asparagus spears next to the eggs. Carefully drape a slice of ham over each of the poached eggs. Season the greens lightly with fine sea salt and generously with pepper. Sprinkle with chives. Serve with the toast.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS & PEA SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Mix the yogurt, mustard and honey together. Add the lemon zest, then add the juice and some seasoning to taste. Squeeze any remaining lemon juice over the watercress.
• Tear the bread into rough chunks and put them on a large roasting tray with the asparagus. Toss both in the rapeseed oil and seasoning, and roast for 10 mins until the asparagus is tender and croutons are golden.
• Meanwhile, cook the eggs in a pan of boiling water for 6 mins, then add the frozen peas and cook for 1 min more. Drain and rinse both under cold water until cool. Peel the eggs, then cut into quarters.
• To assemble, mix the asparagus and peas through the watercress, then toss through the creamy dressing. Nestle in the eggs and croutons, and serve.