Garden Pea Asparagus Mousse Food

SPRING PEA AND ASPARAGUS PASTA

Steps:

• First, prep your vegetables. Then bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the pasta for two minutes less than the package directions. Reserve 2 cups of the pasta water and drain the pasta.
• While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in your largest frying pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the shallots, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden brown (about 5 minutes).
• Add the asparagus and garlic, season with salt, and cook until the asparagus is knife-tender and bright green (about 3 minutes). Stir in the peas and cook until the peas are bright green (about 2 minutes).
• Add the drained pasta to the pan along with 1 cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss to coat. Cook until the sauce starts to coat the pasta (about 2 minutes). Remove the pan from heat and transfer its contents to a large serving bowl. Add the cheese and butter and stir to coat. (Add more pasta water as needed. The sauce should just cling to the pasta.)
• Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, herbs and pine nuts. Taste and adjust seasonings as required (add a pinch of salt, red pepper flakes and/or a squeeze of lemon juice if desired). Grate some cheese over the top and garnish with freshly ground black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS MOUSSELINE

Steps:

• For the mousseline sauce: Place the egg yolks and citrus juices in a bowl over simmering water or in a double boiler. Cook, whisking, until thick and frothy with a ribbonlike texture, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter to emulsify. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• For the leeks: Thinly slice the leeks into matchsticks. Add the butter to a large skillet over medium heat, and cook until brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the leeks and saute until translucent and soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• For the asparagus: Bring a medium saucepan filled with cold water to a simmer, then add the salt. Cut the tough ends from the bottoms of the asparagus and peel the stalks. Blanch the asparagus in the simmering water for 3 to 4 minutes. Meanwhile, add ice to a medium mixing bowl filled with cold water. Add the blanched asparagus to the ice water to stop the cooking. Once the asparagus have chilled, remove from the ice water and pat dry.
• Arrange the leeks on a serving platter. Lay the asparagus on top. Glaze the asparagus with the mousseline sauce. Serve with the remaining sauce on the side.

SAUTEED ASPARAGUS AND SNAP PEAS

Steps:

• Cut off the tough ends of the asparagus and slice the stalks diagonally into 2-inch pieces. Snap off the stem ends of the snap peas and pull the string down the length of the vegetable.
• Warm the olive oil in a large saute pan over a medium heat and add the asparagus and snap peas. Add the salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, to taste, if desired. Cook for approximately 5 to10 minutes until al dente, tossing occasionally. Sprinkle with sea salt and serve hot.

GREEN PEA, ASPARAGUS, AND PARSLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the leeks and sauté for 4 minutes, until softened. Add the broth and bring to a simmer. Stir in the peas and asparagus and simmer, covered, for 3 minutes longer. Carefully place half of the soup in a high-powered blender and puree until smooth, then return it to the pot. Add the parsley and thyme (if using), and stir well to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

ASPARAGUS, PEAS, AND BASIL (PISELLI CON ASPARAGI E BASILICO)

Steps:

• Cook shallots in butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until just tender, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in asparagus, peas, sea salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, then seal skillet with foil. Cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender but still slightly al dente, about 8 minutes. Stir in basil and sea salt to taste.