Nepali Asparagus Salad Saandheko Kurelo Food

NEPALI ASPARAGUS SALAD (SAANDHEKO KURELO)

Steps:

• Bring a medium sized pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add asparagus and cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes (Do not overcook). Drain immediately in a colander and run cold water over it. Place in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Add to the asparagus and toss gently. Taste and add more salt and/or lemon juice if needed. Let sit for 10 minutes.
• Serve room temperature, or cover and refrigerate until serving time.

ASPARAGUS SALAD, JAPANESE-STYLE

Steps:

• Cut off the woodsy bottoms of the asparagus spears; discard. Cut off the flower ends and set aside.
• Use a vegetable peeler to remove the dark green outer skin of each spear; you should get three or four ribbons from each one. Set aside. Cut the remaining stalks crosswise into 1/4-inch rounds. Combine ribbons, sliced rounds and tips in a bowl.
• Toast the sesame seeds in a small dry skillet over medium-heat, shaking occasionally until they color and begin to pop, but remove from heat before they burn. Combine the seeds with sesame oil, rice vinegar, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Taste and adjust as necessary. Spoon over the asparagus and toss gently.

SHAVED ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH GINGER AND SESAME

Steps:

• Make the dressing: In a small bowl, stir together rice vinegar, ginger, garlic and brown sugar. Add jalapeño and sesame oil, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Snap or cut off the tough bottoms of each asparagus spear. With a vegetable peeler, peel each tough-skinned spear, starting halfway down from tip and peeling toward bottom end.
• Cut the asparagus at a long diagonal into very thin slices (not paper thin - about the width of a thinly sliced onion). Place asparagus slices in a wide salad bowl. Season with salt and pepper and toss lightly. Add the ginger dressing and toss to coat well. Taste and adjust. Add scallions and lime juice and toss again.
• Garnish with mint leaves and cilantro sprigs. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

SHAVED ASPARAGUS WITH ARUGULA AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Snap off and discard the tough ends of the asparagus. Using a mandolin, sharp vegetable peeler or thin-bladed knife, slice the asparagus lengthwise into paper-thin ribbons.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice and olive oil to make a dressing. Season to taste with salt and pepper
• Place the asparagus ribbons in a shallow salad bowl. Season lightly with salt and pepper and coat with half the dressing. Add the arugula, tossing gently to distribute the asparagus. Drizzle with the remaining dressing.
• With a vegetable peeler, shave thin curls of Parmesan over the salad. Accompany with a platter of sliced prosciutto, if desired.