Asparagus With Mint Butter Recipes

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of water to the boil and cook the potatoes for 8-10 mins or until tender. Drain.
• Toast the slivered almonds in a dry frying pan until golden. Set aside.
• Mix together the butter, wild garlic leaves and mint (you can blitz in a food processor, if you like). Set aside.
• Cover the peas with boiling water for 30 seconds, then drain and immediately plunge into cold water.
• Heat the olive oil in a large lidded saucepan over a medium heat. Add the asparagus spears and a good pinch of sea salt and shake to coat in the oil. Put the lid on and cook the asparagus over a low to medium heat, shaking the pan to move the spears around, about 4 mins. Remove the spears from the pan and immediately plunge into iced water.
• Melt the garlic butter in the pan and squeeze in the juice of the lemon. Stir the potatoes, asparagus and peas into the butter untiul warm. Tip everything onto a serving dish and grate over some lemon zest. Top with the toasted almonds.

Steps:

• Simmer, steam or roast the asparagus until tender but still firm.
• Use a paper towel to remove any residual water from the asparagus.
• Place the butter in a microwave proof container (I use a glass measuring cup) along with the lemon juice and chopped mint.
• While the asparagus is cooking warm the butter to the point where it's not quite all melted.
• Remove from the microwave and stir to finish melting the butter and mix the lemon juice and mint nicely together.
• Drizzle the butter mixture over the still hot asparagus.
• Sprinkle the lemon zest over the top if using.

Steps:

• Snap off and discard the tough bottoms of the asparagus spears. If using large, thick asparagus, peel the lower ends with a vegetable peeler.
• Put butter in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus in one layer and season with salt and pepper. Add 1/2 cup water, cover, and bring to a simmer. Cook until the asparagus is firm-tender, about 3 minutes. Take care not to overcook them; they should still be bright green. (They will continue to cook a bit once the heat is off.) Remove the asparagus from the pan and place on a serving platter.
• Turn heat to high and simmer briskly until most of the liquid has evaporated, a minute or so. Add lemon juice and zest to the buttery juices. Turn off heat and stir in chives, parsley, tarragon and dill, if using. Check seasoning. Spoon the sauce over the asparagus, garnish with a few herb leaves, and serve.

Steps:

• If cooking polenta on stovetop: In a medium pot over high heat, combine 4 1/2 cups water, polenta and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened, 30 to 40 minutes, depending on how finely the polenta is ground (coarse-ground polenta takes longer).
• Alternatively, cook polenta in oven: Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium Dutch oven or other oven-safe pot over high heat, bring 4 1/2 cups water, polenta and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, stirring constantly until the mixture starts to thicken slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Cover pot and transfer to the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, then give the mixture a stir. If it looks dry, add another 1/2 cup water. Cover the pot once more, and continue to bake for another 20 to 30 minutes.
• When polenta is thick and creamy, stir in 2 to 4 of the tablespoons butter (depending on how buttery you like it) and the Parmesan. Taste and add more Parmesan and salt, if needed.
• As the polenta cooks, prepare the vegetables: In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add shallots and sauté until tender and golden, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Stir in garlic and cook for another minute or two, until fragrant and very lightly golden in spots. Add vermouth and cook until alcohol evaporates, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in asparagus and peas, and cook until vegetables are glossy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add stock, remaining 2 tablespoons butter and a large pinch of salt, and bring to a simmer. Cook until vegetables are tender and sauce thickens slightly, 2 to 8 minutes. (Thicker asparagus will take longer to soften.) Stir in the mint. Taste and add more salt, if needed.
• To serve, spoon polenta into bowls, top with vegetables and their sauce, and grind on lots of fresh pepper. Finish with shaved Parmesan.

Steps:

• Cook asparagus in large pot of boiling salted water until just crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain; rinse with cold water to cool quickly, and drain again. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Pat dry; wrap in paper towels, then plastic, and refrigerate.)
• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add lemon peel and garlic and stir 30 seconds. Add asparagus and toss to coat. Sprinkle lemon juice over. Sauté until asparagus is heated through and coated with butter sauce, about 3 minutes. Season asparagus with salt and pepper. Transfer to platter. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Steps:

• Make the butter: Melt butter with mint, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat until just bubbling around edges.
• Make the asparagus: Cook asparagus in a pot of salted boiling water until bright green and tender, about 3 minutes. Drain.
• Drizzle a few tablespoons mint butter over asparagus, and toss gently to coat. Garnish with mint leaves.