Pistachio Crusted Asparagus Food

ASPARAGUS, BEAN AND PISTACHIO SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, add asparagus and green beans and cook until just tender, about 3-5 minutes, or until desired tenderness. Let cool.
• Rub a bowl with the garlic clove and add asparagus, beans, lettuce, pistachios and cheese. Sprinkle with vinegar and oil, then add salt and pepper.
• Toss until evenly dressed. Taste and adjust seasoning, if desired.

PISTACHIO-CRUSTED PORK WITH PLUM SAUCE AND FRIED LEEKS

Steps:

• Combine chicken stock, oyster sauce, plum sauce, mirin, orange juice, chili-garlic sauce and kaffir lime leaves in heavy small saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer until sauce is reduced to 1 cup, whisking occasionally, about 25 minutes. Whisk in apple cider vinegar and sugar. Remove from heat. (Sauce can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Remove lime leaves.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat sesame oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Sauté pork until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Transfer pork to work surface; brush each piece with sauce and dip in pistachios, turning to coat. Transfer pork to rimmed baking sheet. Bake until thermometer inserted into center registers 150°F, about 10 minutes.
• Bring sauce to boil. Add butter one piece at a time, whisking just until melted before adding next piece. Transfer 2 pork medallions to each of 6 plates. Drizzle sauce around pork. Top with fried leeks, if desired. Serve immediately.
• *Available at Asian markets and in the Asian foods section of many supermarkets.
• **Leaves of the kaffir lime tree; available frozen or sometimes fresh at Asian markets. If unavailable, substitute 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice and 1 teaspoon grated lime peel.

PENNE WITH PISTACHIOS, ASPARAGUS, AND CREAM

Steps:

• Cook the asparagus in a stockpot in boiling salted water, uncovered, over medium-high heat until tender, about 3 minutes. Remove the asparagus, saving the water so the pasta can be prepared in the same pot.
• Sauté garlic in butter in a sauté pan over medium heat.
• Meanwhile start cooking the pasta, according to package directions.
• Add the asparagus and pepper.
• Increase heat to high and pour in the wine, stirring for about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium.
• Pour the half and half and the cream over asparagus mixture and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Season with salt.
• When pasta is done, drain and return to pot.
• Combine asparagus sauce with pasta, stirring over medium heat.
• Add cheese, stirring until it melts; transfer to platter.
• Garnish with pistachio nuts and serve immediately.

PISTACHIO PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse the pistachios until finely ground. In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle, beat the butter with the granulated sugar at medium speed until pale, about 1 minute. Add the ground pistachios, almond extract and salt and beat until combined. Add the flour and beat at low speed until incorporated and the dough is crumbly.
• Scrape the dough into a 9-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Using the bottom of a glass, press the dough over the bottom and up the side of the tart pan. Refrigerate until chilled, 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 300°F Prick the dough all over with a fork. Bake the crust for about 45 minutes, until lightly golden. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.