Grilled Sardines And Asparagus With Citrus Chiles And Sesame Food

SESAME GRILLED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a shallow pan, soak skewers in cold water for 1 hour, then drain and set aside.
• Preheat grill to high. Snap off the woody bases of the asparagus and discard. Skewer 4 or 5 asparagus spears together, using the toothpicks or 2 bamboo skewers, forming a raft shape.
• In a small bowl, combine the sesame oil, soy sauce, and garlic and stir with a fork to mix. Brush this mixture on the asparagus rafts on both sides. Season the asparagus with a little salt and lots of pepper.
• When ready to cook, place the asparagus rafts on the hot grate and grill until nicely browned on both sides, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds as they grill. You can serve the asparagus as rafts or unskewered.

GRILLED SARDINES AND ASPARAGUS WITH CITRUS, CHILES AND SESAME

Steps:

• Prepare a medium-hot grill. Break off the woody ends of the asparagus, and peel each stalk from the flower all the way to the end. Blanch the asparagus in salted water until bright green but slightly crunchier than you want. Spread them out on a baking sheet, and allow to cool.
• Brush the sardines with a small amount of olive oil, and season with salt and a big pinch of the sesame seeds. Toss the cooled asparagus with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and sesame as well.
• Break up the chiles into manageable pieces, and grind in a coffee or spice grinder to a coarse texture. Rehydrate the chiles by mixing with a couple of tablespoons of boiling water.
• Pound the garlic with a mortar and pestle until it is a roughish purée. Chop the herbs. Mix the chiles, garlic and herbs with enough olive oil to make a thick but pourable sauce. Add a pinch of salt, and taste.
• Put the sardines on the grill, and cook until fairly brown and halfway done. Carefully flip them over, and grill on the other side. Larger sardines will take 3 or 4 minutes on each side, smaller ones about 2 minutes on each side. Grill the asparagus for about the same time.
• Spread the citrus on a platter, and lightly season with salt. Place the hot sardines and asparagus on top of the citrus. Spoon over some of the herby chile sauce, and sprinkle the rest of the sesame over the top. Serve the remaining sauce on the side.

GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON AND OLIVE OIL

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to medium.
• In a shallow baking dish, toss the asparagus with the oil to coat well. Add the salt, and pepper and toss.
• Place the asparagus on the grill in a single layer, and cook, turning, until marked and tender, about 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a platter, sprinkle with the lemon juice and drizzle with olive oil, to taste. Cover with aluminum foil and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

GRILLED SOY-SESAME ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat grill for high heat.
• In a bowl, mix sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, and brown sugar. Place asparagus in the bowl, and toss to coat.
• Lightly oil a fine-mesh grill grate. Place asparagus on grate, and cook 8 minutes, until tender but firm. Garnish with sesame seeds to serve.

GRILLED LEMON PARMESAN ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill on medium heat, and lightly oil the grate.
• Place asparagus in a large shallow bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, going from bottom to top of stalks. Season with salt and ground black pepper.
• Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over asparagus. Lightly toss to coat each spear.
• Transfer coated asparagus to the preheated grill with tongs.
• Grill to desired tenderness, 3 to 7 minutes. Before serving, sprinkle asparagus with additional Parmesan cheese.

SIMPLE GRILLED SARDINES

Steps:

• Prepare a medium-hot charcoal fire or stovetop grill pan, or light the broiler.
• Season sardines inside and out with salt and pepper and paint both sides lightly with olive oil.
• Lay sardines on the grill and cook them on one side for about 2 minutes, until nicely browned. (Sardines rarely stick to the grill.) Carefully flip sardines and cook for about 2 minutes more, until just done.
• Transfer each portion to individual plates. Put the sliced fennel in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Dress with about 2 tablespoons olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. Place a pile of dressed fennel evenly on each plate. Serve with lemon wedges and a sprinkle of parsley.

GRILLED SESAME ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Soak 2-3 bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes or more.
• Wash asparagus and snap the ends off. *Note: Snapping the ends off with your fingers rather than cutting will prevent the asparagus from being stringy.
• Thread the asparagus spears onto the bamboo skewers.
• Spoon or brush the toasted sesame oil onto the asparagus.
• Spoon or brush the soy sauce onto the asparagus.
• Sprinkle with pepper.
• Place on BBQ grill and cook for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp.
• Sesame seeds can be added after cooking or before, whichever you like better.
• Any extra soy sauce-oil mixture can either be used for dipping or basting during cooking.

GRILLED SARDINES

Steps:

• Preheat a barbecue or indoor grill to 350 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place sardines on grill. Grill 4 minutes on each side (use medium heat setting on your barbecue or grill). Remove from heat.
• Place grilled sardines on serving plate, cut a fresh lemon in half. Squeeze half of the lemon over sardines. Slice the remaining half lemon and add lemon slices to the serving plate as garnish.

MEDITERRANEAN SARDINES WITH LEMON AND GARLIC

Steps:

• For the spicy tartar: Combine the mayonnaise, yogurt, pickles, red pepper, onion, capers, lemon juice, tarragon, chives, hot sauce and cayenne in a mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Stir well, then cover and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes to allow flavors to come together.
• For the sardines: Preheat a grill to high. Rinse the sardines in cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Season the cavity of each sardine with salt and pepper, then place a sprig of thyme and oregano inside each along with a few slices of lemon and garlic. Season outside with salt and pepper. Carefully tie the sardines with butcher¿s twine to help keep them closed during grilling. Wipe down the grill grates with a towel dipped in oil to clean and create a non-stick surface. Carefully place sardines across grates and grill for 3 to 4 minutes, until skin blisters and chars around the edges. Using a spatula, carefully turn the sardines and grill for a further 2 to 3 minutes to cook through. When done, remove to a platter and keep warm until ready to serve. Serve the sardines slathered with the Spicy Tartar.

CRUNCHY SESAME LEMON ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat butter in a skillet over medium-low heat; cook and stir sesame seeds until lightly toasted, 3 to 5 minutes. Add lemon juice, parsley, salt, and pepper; stir until evenly combined.
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add asparagus, cover, and steam until tender, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Transfer asparagus to a serving plate and drizzle sesame-butter over the top.

GRILLED SOY-SESAME ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Toss asparagus with other ingredients.
• Grill over coals on a fine-mesh grate until crisp tender, about 7-10 minutes (time will vary with size).
• To cook indoors, bake in a 400F oven for 12 minutes or until cooked the way you like.

LEMON AND THYME GRILLED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Mix olive oil, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper in a shallow pan.
• Toss aparagus in the mixture and coat thoroughly. Cook immediately, or for more flavorful asparagus, let sit in fridge for twenty minutes.
• Fire up the grill and cook until asparagus are browned or until desired.
• Serve immediately.

SESAME GRILLED ASPARAGUS RAFTS

Steps:

• With one hand, hold an asparagus stalk at its base. Bend the stalk over with your other hand - the asparagus will break where the woody part ends and the tender part begins. Discard the base. Place 4 or 5 asparagus stalks next to one another. Skewer them crosswise in two places - just below the tips and 3cm from the bottom - with slender bamboo skewers. You will end up with something that looks like a raft.
• In a small bowl, combine the sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic and sesame seeds and stir with a fork to mix. Brush this mixture on the asparagus rafts on both sides. Season the asparagus with a little salt and lots of pepper.
• Grill the asparagus on a barbecue or in a griddle pan for 4-5 mins per side, turning with tongs. Sprinkle with sesame mix as they grill.

GRILLED SARDINES

Steps:

• Prepare a hot grill, making sure the grill is oiled. Rinse the sardines, and dry with paper towels. Toss with the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
• When the grill is ready, toss the rosemary sprigs directly on the fire. Wait for the flames to die down, then place the sardines directly over the heat, in batches if necessary. Grill for a minute or two on each side, depending on the size. Transfer from the grill to a platter using tongs or a wide metal spatula, and serve with lemon wedges.

CITRUS-ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. From one orange and one lemon, cut 1/8 x 2-inch strips, being careful not to cut into the bitter white pith. Set aside. From the same orange and lemon squeeze a total of 2 tablespoons juice; set aside.
• Thinly slice remaining orange and lemon; drizzle slices with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper; set aside.
• Wash asparagus; break off woody bases at the point where the spear easily bends. Place spears in a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with garlic, tarragon, and citrus strips. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil; toss to coat spears. Spread in a single layer and season with salt and pepper.
• Roast asparagus and citrus slices 12-15 minutes, turning once or twice with tongs, until asparagus is tender and citrus begins to brown. Transfer to a serving platter.
• Meanwhile, for vinaigrette, in small dish whisk together reserved juices and remaining 2 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over roasted asparagus, citrus, and garlic. Sprinkle with roasted citrus slices. Serve warm.

CHILLED ASPARAGUS WITH SESAME VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cook asparagus in large skillet of boiling salted water until just crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain. Rinse with cold water and drain well. Pat dry with paper towels. Arrange on platter. Mix sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce and sugar in small bowl. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. (Asparagus and dressing can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate.) Spoon dressing over asparagus. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH SESAME GINGER AND SOY

Steps:

• Preheat BBQ or chargrill.
• Combine water, ginger, lime juice and chilli, stir well set aside.
• Toss asparagus in oil and grill until charred on all sides.
• Mix with garlic and sesame seeds.
• Add soy and reserved ginger mixture. Serve.

GRILLED FRESH SARDINES WITH FENNEL AND PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Cook fennel:
• Heat oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook fennel, onion, preserved lemon rind, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Add water and braise, covered, stirring occasionally, until fennel is very tender and slightly caramelized and water is evaporated, about 10 minutes. Keep warm, covered.
• Grill sardines while fennel cooks:
• Rinse sardines and pat dry, then spread out on a platter. Drizzle sardines with 1 tablespoon oil and sprinkle with sea salt, fennel seeds, and pepper.
• Heat grill pan over moderately high heat until hot. Oil grill pan and grill sardines, in 2 batches if necessary, turning over once, until just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes total per batch. Transfer as cooked to a clean platter with a slotted spatula.
• Stir together lemon juice and remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Serve sardines on fennel mixture sprinkled with dill and drizzled with lemon dressing.