Impress The In Laws Savory Crab And Asparagus Puffs Food

CRAB & TANGLED ASPARAGUS SALAD ON TOAST

Steps:

• Use a swivel blade peeler to shave the asparagus into ribbons. Put in a bowl and season with salt and pepper, then dress with the lemon juice and olive oil and set aside.
• Mix the parsley, capers, gherkin and lemon zest into the mayonnaise in a small bowl, then gently fold through the crabmeat. Toast or griddle the sourdough and top with the crab mixture. Toss the rocket in with the asparagus and top each crab toast with a tangle of the asparagus salad. Season with flaky sea salt and serve.

ASPARAGUS CRAB OMELETS

Steps:

• Place asparagus in a steamer basket. Place in a saucepan over 1 in. of water; bring to a boil. Cover and steam for 4-5 minutes or until crisp-tender; set aside. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, salt and pepper. Stir in tomatoes., Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small skillet over medium heat; add half of the egg mixture. As eggs set, lift edges, letting uncooked portion flow underneath. When the eggs are set, spoon half of the crab, asparagus and provolone cheese over one side; fold omelet over filling. Cover and let stand for 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Repeat for second omelet.

SMOKED SALMON AND ASPARAGUS PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Put the smoked salmon in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon zest, dill, hot sauce, smoked paprika and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the chives. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Lightly dust a clean surface with flour. Unroll the crescent dough and separate into 8 triangles, following the perforations. Cut each triangle in half lengthwise to make 2 thin triangles. Starting at the wide end of a triangle piece, spread 1 1/2 teaspoons of the smoked salmon mixture toward the tip. Place a piece of asparagus about 1/4 inch from the bottom of the dough's wide end, then roll up towards the tip. Place on the baking sheet with the tip of the roll-up flat on the baking sheet. Repeat with all the dough.
• Lightly whisk the egg with 1/2 teaspoon water. Brush the egg wash over each puff, then sprinkle some of the remaining chives over each. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes.

ASPARAGUS PASTRY PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large skillet, bring 1-1/2 in. of water to a boil. Add asparagus; cook, uncovered, 1-3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove asparagus and immediately drop into ice water. Drain and pat dry., In a small bowl, mix cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper until blended. Unfold puff pastry sheets; cut each sheet in half to make a total of four rectangles. Spread each rectangle with a fourth of the cream cheese mixture to within 1/4 in. of edges. Arrange asparagus over top, allowing tips to show at each end; roll up jelly-roll style. Using a serrated knife, cut each roll crosswise into four sections., Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, seam side down. In a small bowl, whisk egg with water until blended; brush lightly over tops., Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack; serve warm.

CHEESE, BACON & ASPARAGUS PUFFS

Steps:

• Heat the grill to high. Lay the bacon on a baking tray in a single layer and grill for 8-10 mins until starting to crisp at the edges. Leave to cool. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Meanwhile, unroll the pastry sheet and cut into six squares. Pile a small mound of the cheese in the centre of each square, reserving some of the cheese for scattering over later. Trim the woodier ends of the asparagus spears so each one is about 10cm long. Place four spears diagonally across each mound of cheese. Chop the bacon into small pieces and sprinkle over.
• Working with one pastry square at a time, fold the two corners not covered by the asparagus into the centre and pinch the ends together gently to seal. Repeat with the remaining squares, then scatter over the reserved cheese. Can now be frozen for up to three months.
• Transfer the puffs to a baking tray lined with baking parchment and bake for 20-25 mins (or 35 mins from frozen), or until golden brown. Leave to cool on the tray for a few minutes before serving.

CRAB & ASPARAGUS PAPPARDELLE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed frying pan. Add the fennel seeds, chilli, shallots, parsley stalks, lemon zest and seasoning, and fry for about 5 mins, or until softened and aromatic. Add the tomato purée, cook for a couple of mins, then deglaze with the vermouth. Add half the crabmeat, stir to create a thick sauce, then remove from the heat while you cook the pasta.
• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta until al dente. With 3 mins remaining, add the asparagus, then use a slotted spoon to transfer the pasta and asparagus to the crab pan. Put the crab pan back on the heat, add a couple of spoonfuls of pasta water to loosen and toss together, coating the pasta in the sauce. Add the rest of the crabmeat, crème fraîche and lemon juice, and warm through. Divide between plates and garnish with parsley, chives and hazelnuts.

ASPARAGUS AND CRAB CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan set over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Gradually add the milk and stir until thick and smooth, about 5 minutes. Add the Cheddar and Swiss cheeses, and stir until melted. Add the salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Hold an asparagus spear with both hands, about 2 inches from the ends. Gently bend the asparagus until it snaps. It will break at the point where the stem gets too tough to be enjoyable; discard the stem. Repeat for all your asparagus. Cook the asparagus in boiling water until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain.
• Place the asparagus in a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. Scatter the crab meat over the asparagus, then pour in the cheese sauce. Sprinkle with the Parmesan, then bake for about 30 minutes or until top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling.

IMPRESS THE IN-LAWS - SAVORY CRAB AND ASPARAGUS PUFFS

Steps:

• To make PASTRY: Sift together flour,cayenne and salt.
• Mix in butter pieces until the mixture resembles a coarse meal.
• In another bowl, whisk together egg, sour cream and basil.
• Add the flour to the egg mixture and mix with a fork until it forms a dough.
• Take care to not overwork the dough.
• Form the dough into a ball, dust with flour, wrap with plastic wrap and flatten it slightly.
• Place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• For FILLING: Melt butter with olive oil in a large heavy bottomed skillet.
• Add garlic, onion and asparagus.
• Saute' until onion is translucent and asparagus is beginning to soften.
• Add tomato, crab, salt and pepper and allow to cook 2 minutes longer.
• Mix Ricotta and basil.
• Remove dough from icebox.
• Sprinkle work surface with flour.
• Roll flour into a rectangle about 1/8 inch thick.
• Spread ricotta on dough.
• Spread asparagus/crab mixture over cheese.
• Cut into 2x2 inch squares.
• Mix egg and water to make egg wash.
• Roll each square into a'log', brush with egg wash and place on a cookie sheet.
• Bake in a 375 degree oven for 20 minutes or until pastry is flaky and golden brown.

COLOSSAL CRAB ASPARAGUS BISQUE

Steps:

• Bring stock and bay leaves to a boil in a large pot. Cook asparagus until tender and add to stock pot. Melt butter in a separate saucepan and gently saute onions, celery, and carrots (mirepoix) until tender, then gradually add flour (with a non-reactive utensil such as a wooden spoon), and cook until similar to a roux. Transfer to the pot of stock to thicken soup. Let simmer for 45 minutes. Remove bay leaves from soup. *Blend to a puree with an immersion blender, or in batches in a blender or food processor. Add cream to the soup, and keep warm over low heat.
• For the crab "souffle," mix crab, mayonnaise, thyme, salt and pepper, and squeeze of fresh lemon juice, trying to avoid breaking up the lumps of crabmeat. Place a scoop of the crabmeat in the center of soup bowl and ladle the asparagus soup around. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
• *When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

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.

CHICKEN ASPARAGUS PUFFS

Steps:

• In a food processor, blend together the cooked chicken, mayonnaise, garlic, curry and seasoned salt until smooth, then season with black pepper to taste (this can be prepared in advance and refrigerated).
• Roll out puff pastry into a rectangle shape (10x14-in).
• Then lengthwise into three even strips of pastry.
• Spread chicken mixture along one side of each strip of pastry.
• Place asparagus spears lengthwise beside chicken mixture.
• Brush edges of pastry with egg.
• Roll pastry over to close completely.
• Brush top with egg.
• Cut rolls diagonally into 1-inch slices with a sharp knife.
• Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• Place on a greased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 425 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Delicious!

ASPARAGUS CHEESE PUFF

Steps:

• Cut bread slices in half.
• Arrange bread in buttered 8x8 inch dish and sprinkle with onion.
• Place asparagus over bread and onion.
• Top with cheese.
• Beat eggs with salt, pepper and curry.
• Add milk and cream; beat well.
• Pour evenly over bread and asparagus.
• Bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes.
• This will be puffed and brown.

PARMESAN ASPARAGUS PUFF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Melt margarine in 8" square baking dish. Use basting brush to coat bottom and sides evenly.
• Arrange asparagus spears in baking dish.
• Using hand mixer, beat eggs lightly. Add garlic salt, sour cream, oil and reserved liquid. Mix well.
• Add flour and parmesan cheese. Combine at low speed, then beat 20-30 seconds on high.
• Pour this batter over the asparagus. Arrange tomato slices (or cherry tomato quarters) on top. Dust tomatoes with garlic salt and parmesan cheese.
• Bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes.
• Can be doubled and prepared in 9" x 11" dish.

ASPARAGUS CRAB AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Place asparagus in a greased 1-qt. baking dish.
• Top with crab and cheese and set aside.
• In a saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter.
• Stir in flour until smooth.
• Whisk in milk, mustard, salt and pepper.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
• Remove from the heat and stir in lemon juice.
• Pour over asparagus.
• Melt remaining butter and toss with bread crumbs.
• Sprinkle over top.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes or until heated through.