Warm Artichoke Asparagus Summer Salad Food

RED POTATO, ASPARAGUS, AND ARTICHOKE SALAD

Steps:

• Place the potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and allow to steam dry for a minute or two. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bite-size cubes. Transfer to a large bowl
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the asparagus spears, and cook until tender, about 3 minutes depending on size. Drain and immediately plunge into cold water to stop cooking. Cut the asparagus spears into 1 inch pieces. Place in the bowl with the potatoes. Stir in the artichokes, breaking them apart slightly as you put them in the bowl.
• Combine the mustard and lemon juice in a bowl; whisk the oil gradually into the mustard and lemon juice until smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. Drizzle over the vegetables; toss to coat. Sprinkle with chives to serve.

ARTICHOKE ASPARAGUS & GREEN BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine artichoke hearts, onions, garlic, lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper. Gently toss everything together and set aside.
• Cut green beans and asparagus into one inch pieces.
• In a medium steaming pot, steam the green beans and asparagus until al dente. This will take two to three minutes. We want to get the raw edge off of the veggies, but still want them to have lots of texture and bite.
• Gently toss the hot veggies into the bowl with the artichoke hearts, onions, garlic, lemon, and olive oil. Add a little more salt and pepper to taste and then finish with the fresh sliced basil.
• Serve and enjoy!

ASPARAGUS AND ARTICHOKE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add asparagus and cook until tender, about 1 minute. Strain asparagus out of water and immediately plunge into a bowl filled with ice water; let sit in ice water until completely cold, then cut into 1 inch pieces. Next, add pasta to boiling water and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain, rinse with cold water until chilled, then drain well.
• Stir together mayonnaise, balsamic vinaigrette, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl. Fold in artichoke, chicken, cranberries, almonds, crumbled bacon, and asparagus. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then fold in cooked pasta. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

ROASTED ARTICHOKE SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the artichoke hearts in a bowl with 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and toss until the artichoke hearts are coated. Dump the artichoke hearts onto a sheet pan and spread out into 1 layer; roast in the oven for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the vinaigrette. Place the minced shallot, lemon juice, mustard, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process for 5 seconds. Add the basil leaves and process into a green puree. With the processor running, slowly pour 1/2 cup olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube until the ingredients are finely pureed. Set aside.
• Place the roasted artichoke hearts in a bowl and toss with enough vinaigrette to moisten. Add the capers, red peppers, red onion, parsley, 4 tablespoons vinegar and red pepper flakes, if using, and toss gently. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper and let stand for 30 minutes for the flavors to blend. Serve at room temperature.

WARM ARTICHOKE & ASPARAGUS SUMMER SALAD

Steps:

• When the artichokes are trimmed, find a pan wide enough to hold them in a single layer. Squeeze in juice from a lemon half and half-fill with cold water. Add 2 tbsp olive oil, the spices, thyme, vinegar, artichokes and a generous pinch of salt. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for about 15 mins until soft. Turn off the heat and allow to cool (see tips, below).
• Prepare the asparagus. First, cut off the woody ends, then use a swivel blade peeler to trim the ends, rotating them as you go so they end up the same thickness as the tips.
• Bring a large pan of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the asparagus for 2 mins, then drain and tip straight into heavily iced water. Leave until completely cool, drain again, then set aside.
• To make the dressing, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan , then gently cook the red onion for 5 mins until soft. Turn off the heat stir in the spring onion and chives, then tip into a jug. Drizzle the rest of the oil and the vinegar into the dressing, then season to taste.
• Get the vegetables ready. Drain the artichokes, then cut each into 6 wedges. Slice each asparagus on the angle into 3 pieces.
• Wipe out the dressing pan and heat the remaining olive oil. Fry the asparagus with some seasoning until shiny and starting to colour, then scoop onto a plate. Place the pan back on the heat, then cook the artichoke wedges until they start to brown. Turn off the heat and you are ready to plate up.
• Spoon a puddle of dressing into the centre of each plate. Balance the pieces of asparagus up against each other to circle the dressing. Arrange the artichokes among the asparagus so they're evenly distributed over the plate. Scatter over the salad leaves and drizzle over the remaining dressing.

ARTICHOKE, FENNEL, ASPARAGUS, GREEN BEAN AND FRESH SUMMER TRUFFLE SALAD, TOPPED WITH GRILLED HALIBUT FILLET IN A TRUFFLE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Trim outer leaves of artichokes all the way to the heart. Cook artichoke hearts in simmering water with lemon juice for approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Cool down in an ice water bath, and then cut into small sections.
• Peel and cook asparagus for 1 minute in simmering water. Cool down in an ice water bath to keep green. Cut each spear into 3 pieces, on the bias.
• Trim and snip green beans. Cook in boiling water for 2 minutes. Cool down in an iced water bath to keep green.
• Clean and trim fennel. Cut out center part, and then cook in boiling water for about 40 minutes, or until tender. Cool down in an iced water bath. Cut into even wedges.
• Slice fresh summer truffle very finely with a sharp knife, and set aside. In a small salad bowl, mix the shallots, olive and truffle oils, sherry vinegar, and salt and pepper, to taste. Set dressing aside.
• Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Season halibut with salt and pepper, and grill on both sides until cooked through (fish should be opaque in the center).
• On 4 large dinner plates, arrange baby lettuce, artichokes, asparagus, green beans, and fennel. Place halibut in the center on top, dribble with vinaigrette, and garnish with fresh summer truffle slices.