Warm Asparagus Salad With Toasted Walnut Aioli Dressing Food

THE FOOD LAB'S WALNUT VINAIGRETTE RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine walnuts, vinegar, water, mustard, honey, and shallot in a medium bowl and whisk together. To keep it from moving, set bowl inside a heavy medium saucepan lined with a dish towel. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in olive and canola oil; the dressing should emulsify and thicken significantly. Whisk in walnut oil, if using. Season with salt and pepper. The dressing will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks; shake vigorously before using.

RAW ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH WALNUTS & PARMESAN

Steps:

• Place day-old bread in the food processor and whiz until fine. Measure out 1.5 to 2 cups of crumbs. Heat the 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Add the crumbs and the salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crumbs are golden brown. This could take 5 to 15 minutes (or longer) depending on your heat level. If you have the time, go slowly to prevent burning. When the crumbs are nice and golden, turn off the heat. Let cool briefly. Taste. Add more salt if necessary. Measure out 1/3 cup of the crumbs - this is the amount the original recipe calls for. You can use more if you wish.
• Place the walnuts in a medium skillet. Set the skillet over low heat. Allow the walnuts to toast slowly while you prepare the salad. Remove them from the heat when they smell and look toasty. You can chop them on a cutting board or by gently crushing them in a tea towel.
• Using a sharp knife, slice the asparagus thinly on the bias.
• In a large bowl, combine the toasted walnuts, the 1/3 cup (or more!) toasted bread crumbs, the grated Parmigiano Reggiano, the crushed red pepper flakes (starting with 1/4 teaspoon if you are sensitive to heat), salt and pepper to taste, and the zest of the lemon. Stir to combine. Add the asparagus and toss to combine. "Taste and dial in the flavors by adding more salt, black pepper, chile flakes, or lemon juice. When the flavors are bright and delicious, add the mint (if using) and 1/4 cup olive oil." Toss to combine. Taste and adjust the flavors again if necessary.
• Transfer to a serving platter. Crack more pepper over top if you wish.

ASPARAGUS, TOMATO AND FETA SALAD WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile prepare vinaigrette - add vinegar to a small saucepan, bring to a boil over medium heat and allow to boil until reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
• Pour into a jar or bowl, add olive oil, dijon mustard, honey, garlic and whisk to blend while seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
• Add asparagus to boiling water and allow to boil until tender crisp, about 4 - 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile fill a medium mixing bowl with ice and cold water. Drain and immediately transfer asparagus to ice water, let rest about 10 seconds then drain asparagus well.
• Transfer to a bowl with tomatoes and walnuts. Drizzle vinaigrette over top and toss lightly.
• Sprinkle over half of the feta then plate and top with remaining feta (just so the feta doesn't brown from tossing with all the dressing).

RADISH, AVOCADO AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• To make the dressing: In the bowl of a food processor or mini chopper, add the walnuts, shallots and garlic. Pulse until the walnuts are crumbly but the mixture is starting to get a little pasty. Add the oil, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper and puree until smooth. Adjust the seasoning if necessary.
• For the salad: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Fill a large bowl with cold water and ice and set aside. Cook the asparagus until crisp-tender, 1 to 2 minutes, then transfer immediately to the ice bath to chill for 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and pat dry. Cut diagonally on a long, sharp bias into 2-inch pieces. Add to a serving bowl.
• Add the radishes to the asparagus. Squeeze the lemon juice over the vegetables and season with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Gently toss. Spoon the dressing over the salad and toss again. Arrange the avocado over the salad, then garnish with the tarragon and serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS WITH WALNUTS

Steps:

• 1. Fill a large bowl halfway with ice cubes and add some cold water. Place a colander squarely inside the ice bath. The colander will keep you from having to pick the asparagus out from amongst the ice cubes in the ice bath.
• 2. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Add the asparagus and cook for 1 to 1½ minutes. You want them to be crunchy. If the asparagus are thicker, cook for 1½ to 2 minutes.
• 3. Remove the asparagus from the water using a slotted spoon and transfer them to the colander inside the ice bath. Move them around gently so the ice water penetrates the asparagus and accelerates the cooling process. Vegetables take longer than you think to cool so allow them to sit a few minutes in the ice water. Hold a piece of the asparagus in your hand for a few seconds to assure that it's really cool (even in the center). If the piece still feels warm, allow them to cool longer in the ice bath. Place them on a kitchen towel to drain any excess moisture.
• 4. Heat oil a medium skillet until hot (but not smoking), add the walnuts and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. They should bubble and fry slightly in the oil. When you can smell the walnuts, add the paprika and cayenne and lower the heat to medium. Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, and transfer the mixture to a bowl. Set aside.
• 5. Toss the asparagus in the bowl with the walnuts and the oil. Let this mixture sit in the refrigerator for a few hours or a few minutes. When ready to serve, stir in the lemon juice. Serve immediately.

WARM ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add asparagus and stir-fry until tender but still firm to the bite, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and drizzle with lemon juice. Place in a bowl and add cherry tomatoes.
• Stir vinegar, mustard, sugar, and salt together in a small bowl. Pour in olive oil and mix well. Drizzle dressing over asparagus and tomatoes and mix well. Serve warm.

ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH WALNUT OIL VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine and whisk together vinegar, shallot, mustard, salt and pepper.
• Continue to whisk and add vegetable oil in thin stream.
• Whisk in walnut oil; set dressing aside.
• Place steamed asparagus on platter; pour dressing over asparagus.
• Garnish with toasted walnuts, parsley and Blue Cheese crumbles.
• Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if necessary.
• Serve immediately.

WARM ROAST ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas 6/fan 180C. Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus and discard. Arrange the asparagus in a single layer in a baking tray with sides. Cut the tomatoes in half widthways, nestle them in with the asparagus, season with sea salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Roll each bacon rasher into a tight roll (if large, first cut in half crosswise), and arrange in the tray. Drizzle the bacon rolls with the honey and bake for 20 minutes until the tomatoes are soft and the bacon is crisp.
• In the meantime, boil the potatoes until tender. Whisk the vinegar, olive oil, mustard, some sea salt and pepper in a large bowl until blended. Toss the rocket or spinach leaves in half of the dressing, and arrange on a large serving platter.
• Drain the potatoes and cut in half. Gently toss them in the rest of the dressing, and arrange on the platter with the asparagus. Tuck in the tomatoes and bacon.

BAKED ASPARAGUS WITH TOASTED WALNUTS

Steps:

• To cook asparagus: Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Break off woody stems of asparagus.
• If stalks are thick, peel with a vegetable peeler, pulling from stem end toward tip.
• (Pencil-thin spears do no need peeling.) Place in a greased or sprayed 9x13 inch glass baking dish.
• Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
• Dot with margarine.
• Cover with foil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until tender but still crisp.
• (Asparagus may be baked 1 day ahead and reheated in microwave.) To make topping: In a small bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• (Topping may be refrigerated overnight. Bring to room temperature before using.)
• Before serving: Spoon topping over asparagus and sprinkle with walnuts.

ASPARAGUS WITH WALNUTS, PARMESAN AND BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Steam the asparagus until just tender, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until the foam has subsided and the butter turns a deep golden brown, about 4 minutes. (Take care that it doesn't burn.) Stir in the nuts and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and whisk in the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon nut mixture over warm asparagus and serve at once.

ASPARAGUS WITH ROASTED-GARLIC AïOLI

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
• Cut off and discard tops of garlic heads to expose cloves, then brush each head with 1/2 tablespoon oil. Wrap heads together in foil and bake until tender, about 45 minutes. Cool to warm.
• Squeeze garlic from skins into a food processor and purée with mayonnaise, vinegar, pepper, and salt. Transfer aioli to a bowl and stir in chives.
• Peel lower two thirds of each asparagus stalk with a vegetable peeler. Cook asparagus in a wide 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well in a colander and rinse under cold water until asparagus is cool. Drain and pat dry with paper towels. Serve asparagus with roasted-garlic aioli.