Warm Salad Of Asparagus Spears And Seared Lamb Chops With Fresh Mint Vinaigrette Food

WARM ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and fill a large bowl with ice water.
• Add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook until just tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain and transfer to the ice water. Once cooled, drain and pat dry and add to a medium bowl.
• Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat, add the walnuts and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until just golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour mixture over the asparagus and toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• To serve, transfer asparagus to a platter and scatter Parmesan on top. Drizzle with lemon juice and serve immediately.

LAMB/SHOULDER CHOPS - AVEC CREAMY ASPARAGUS/RICOTTA/CURRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare MARINADE the night before your dinner party.
• Of the MARINADE and SAUCE ingredients mix ONLY first seven in your Processor, or Blender.
• Reserve last four ingredients for future use.
• Remember to use only the first seven ingredients.
• Remove excess fat from around the outside of shoulder chops.
• Leave the bone in, if there is one.
• Place chops in a covered container large enough to accommodate all, even if you have to"double-row" them.
• Pour MARINADE over shoulder chops, cover and place in refrigerator.
• Allow to marinate 24 hours; be sure the chops are all well covered with the MARINADE.
• Baste chops periodically to ensure good saturation.
• Keep covered during the marinating process.
• Next day, when you are ready for cooking: Remove shoulder chops from MARINADE; pat dry with paper toweling and set aside.
• Reserve the MARINADE for later use in the sauce preparation.
• In a saucepan and 1/2 cup water, over medium heat,cook asparagus spears for 5-7 minutes.
• Because of the quantity, you may have to do this in a couple of batches.
• Remove asparagus spears from water and reserve for use in SAUCE preparation.
• Discard the water.
• Skin the Roma tomatoes by dipping in very hot water for a few minutes; the skin should slide off easily.
• Slice off the tops and discard; cut skinned tomatoes in half, lengthwise.
• Cover and set aside for later use.
• In a large skillet, heat 1 Tbsp of the olive oil; add the butter. (Watch it does not burn).
• Saute all the onions, stirring frequently; transfer to a small bowl.
• Mix in 1/2 Tbsp grated parmesan or Romano cheese. Cover and set aside for later use.
• In the same skillet, add a little more olive oil for browning.
• Lightly cook tomato halves, flat side only, until just brown.
• Transfer to a plate and sprinkle balance of grated parmesan or Romano cheese on the tomatoes; Cover and set aside for later use.
• Add water to two eggs and beat well with a hand mixer or rotary beater.
• At this point you should take out your shallow oven pan or a shallow pan large enough to accommodate all the chops at one time.
• PREHEAT OVEN TO 325°F.
• In four separate containers, place the milk, flour, well-beaten eggs, bread crumbs, Add more olive oil to the skillet, as needed.
• Prepare the chops in the following order: Soak in milk, dredge in flour, dip in beaten eggs, finally in bread crumbs.
• Brown both sides of chops quickly in skillet; remove to shallow oven pan.
• Give the onions and grated cheese an additional toss to coat well.
• Spoon onions over the breaded chops, dividing equally.
• Top-off with one tomato half, flat side down, on each chop.
• Use up all of the grated cheese bits, as well.
• Bake uncovered, in preheated oven for 35 minutes.
• Turn down oven to 275°F and continue cooking for an additional 10 minutes.
• While the meat is baking, prepare the Creamy, Asparagus/Ricotta/Curry Sauce SAUCE PREPARATION: In a saucepan, over medium heat, bring MARINADE/SAUCE mixture to a boil.
• Turn heat down and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes, mixing occasionally.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
• Add cooked asparagus, ricotta cheese and a little of the cooked MARINADE/SAUCE mixture to your food processor.
• Process on "pulse cycle" for a few minutes or until ricotta cheese and asparagus are well blended.
• Continue to gradually add all of the MARINADE/SAUCE mixture, through feed tube, until smooth.
• You now have the basis for the SAUCE.
• Transfer SAUCE to saucepan; bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and set aside.
• Put all of the cornstarch into a medium-sized bowl.
• Make a roux by gradually whisking 35% cream (or whipping cream) into the cornstarch, whisking continuously, until all of the cream has been used, and roux is very smooth.
• Gradually,and gently transfer about 1/4 cup of the SAUCE mixture to the roux.
• Continue whisking as you gradually add additional SAUCE to the roux.
• Remember you are working with very hot ingredients; please be careful; do not burn yourself.
• Pour the mixture back into the saucepan, whisking continuously.
• Turn down heat as low as possible.
• Allow to thicken while whisking.
• Whisk again, just before spooning onto chops.
• Turn off the oven.
• Transfer Lamb Chops from oven pan to dinner plates.
• Spoon the CREAMY ASPARAGUS RICOTTA/CURRY SAUCE over the Lamb Chops, and serve while still hot.

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.

WARM SALAD OF ASPARAGUS SPEARS AND SEARED LAMB CHOPS WITH FRESH MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Season the chops with salt, pepper, garlic and oregano. Heat a heavy skillet over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil. Sear each side of the chops for 3-4 minutes for medium rare. Remove chops from pan. Set aside. Cover loosely to keep warm. Pour off any fat left in skillet while keeping lamb juices in the pan. Add stock and scrape up any brown bits from the pan. Boil until the liquid reduces to 1-2 tablespoons. Remove the pan from the heat and add the vinegar. Whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add chopped mint. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. Cut asparagus into 3 inch spears. Steam until tender. Arrange warm asparagus and lamb on serving plate. Pour warm vinaigrette all over. Top with feta, onions and olives. Serve immediately. Nutrients per serving: Calories 314, fat 22 gms, calories from fat 194, saturated fat 9 gms, cholesterol 62 gms, sodium 300 mg, dietary fiber 8 gms, protein 25 gms

GRILLED LAMB CHOPS WITH RHUBARB COMPOTE AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a mortar and pestle, coarsely crush fennel seeds (or place in a resealable bag and crush with the bottom of a skillet). Season chops generously with kosher salt, pepper, and fennel seeds. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes, or refrigerate, covered, up to 1 day.
• In a medium skillet, combine sugar, vinegar, ginger, and garlic over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced by half, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add rhubarb and star anise; cook, stirring, until rhubarb is tender but not falling apart (watch carefully, as this can happen quickly), about 3 minutes. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and let cool completely (you should have about 1/2 cup).
• Heat a grill over direct heat to medium-high. Drizzle asparagus with oil; season with kosher salt and pepper. Brush grates with oil and grill lamb until a golden-brown crust forms and chops are medium-rare, about 3 minutes a side. Transfer to a platter and tent with foil to keep warm.
• Grill asparagus, turning occasionally, until charred in places and crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Toss watercress with flaky salt and a squeeze of lime. Serve alongside lamb chops, asparagus, rhubarb compote, and more lime wedges.

WARM SALAD OF ASPARAGUS SPEARS AND SEARED LAMB CHOPS WITH FRESH MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Season the chops with salt, pepper, garlic and oregano. Heat a heavy skillet over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil. Sear each side of the chops for 3-4 minutes for medium rare. Remove chops from pan. Set aside. Cover loosely to keep warm. Pour off any fat left in skillet while keeping lamb juices in the pan. Add stock and scrape up any brown bits from the pan. Boil until the liquid reduces to 1-2 tablespoons. Remove the pan from the heat and add the vinegar. Whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add chopped mint. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. Cut asparagus into 3 inch spears. Steam until tender. Arrange warm asparagus and lamb on serving plate. Pour warm vinaigrette all over. Top with feta, onions and olives. Serve immediately. Nutrients per serving: Calories 314, fat 22 gms, calories from fat 194, saturated fat 9 gms, cholesterol 62 gms, sodium 300 mg, dietary fiber 8 gms, protein 25 gms