Spring Asparagus Food

SPRING ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly flour the work surface and roll out the puff pastry to a 9- by 12-inch even rectangle. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Combine the mascarpone, 1 1/4 teaspoons of the salt, the flour, egg and lemon zest, and then fold in the chives and tarragon. Spread over the puff pastry, leaving a 3/4-inch border. Make small cuts around the border about 1 inch apart with the tip of a paring knife.
• Toss the asparagus with the olive oil in a bowl. Lay half of the asparagus in a neat row across the surface of the tart so the tips meet the edge. Do the same in the opposite direction with the remaining asparagus. Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Bake until the border of the tart is deep golden and puffed and the top is lightly spotted golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes and serve.
• Serve with lightly dressed greens.

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.

SPRING ASPARAGUS QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Coat a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
• In a medium saucepan cook the asparagus, covered, in a small amount of boiling water for 2 minutes.
• Drain; set aside.
• In a small bowl stir together the grated Parmesan and basil.
• Sprinkle a work surface with half of the mixture.
• Roll out pizza dough on the surface to a 12-inch square.
• Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan mixture.
• Using a rolling pin, gently press into dough by rolling over top.
• Turn dough into prepared pan.
• Press dough up the sides of the pan, folding under edges as needed to form sides that are 2 inches high.
• Line dough in pan with a double thickness of foil.
• Bake for 8 minutes.
• Remove foil.
• Bake 5 minutes more.
• Remove from oven.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, in a small skillet cook bacon until crisp.
• Drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings.
• Crumble bacon; set aside.
• Cook onion in reserved drippings over medium heat until tender but not brown; drain.
• In a medium mixing bowl stir together eggs, milk, salt, and nutmeg.
• Stir in crumbled bacon and onion.
• Toss together Swiss cheese and flour.
• Add to egg mixture; mix well.
• Pour egg mixture into the dough-lined pan.
• Toss asparagus halves with the oil.
• Arrange asparagus in a spokeline pattern on top of egg mixture.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
• Remove sides of pan to serve.
• Top with shaved Parmesan cheese, if desired.
• Makes 6 main-dish servings.

SPRING ASPARAGUS CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Drain pineapple and reserve 1 tbls of the juice for later.
• Mix chicken, walnuts, almonds and pineapple in medium bowl.
• Mix reserved pineapple juice and mayonaisse until smooth.
• Toss mayonaisse mixture with chicken mixture.
• Fold in asparagus.
• Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled.
• Serve on lettuce leaves.

SPRING ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk together the rice vinegar, red wine vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and mustard. Drizzle in the peanut oil and sesame oil while whisking vigorously to emulsify. Set aside.
• Bring a pot of lightly-salted water to a boil. Add the asparagus to the water and cook 3 to 5 minutes until just tender, but still mostly firm. Remove and rinse under cold water to stop from cooking any further.
• Place the asparagus in a large bowl and drizzle the dressing over the asparagus. Toss until evenly coated. Sprinkle with sesame seeds to serve.

SPRING ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring 1 cup water to a boil. Add asparagus; cook, covered, until crisp-tender, 3-5 minutes. Drain; place in a large bowl. Add tomatoes; cover and keep warm. , Place vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, onion, salt and paprika in a blender; cover and process until smooth. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Toss with asparagus mixture. Top with almonds and, if desired, cheese.

GRILLED ASPARAGUS AND SPRING ONIONS WITH LEMON DRESSING

Steps:

• Prepare grill for medium-high. Whisk lemon zest, Meyer lemon zest, lemon juice, Meyer lemon juice, mustard, and 1/4 cup oil in a medium bowl to combine; season dressing with salt and pepper (if you don't have Meyer lemons, use regular lemons in their place).
• Place asparagus and spring onions on a rimmed baking sheet and lightly drizzle with oil. Season with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Grill, turning once, until lightly charred and crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Serve drizzled with dressing.