CHILLED ASPARAGUS SALAD
I like to use a kitchen scissor to cut only the very bottom from the stalk; breaking it off causes more of the bottom to go to waste, which is otherwise perfectly edible. With the smaller, thinner "pencil" asparagus, the stalks are too thin to peel and you need that protective layer so the asparagus keep their shape during cooking. For larger asparagus, where the skin is tougher, I do peel the stalk but leave the tip and an inch or so below the tip, unpeeled. The top is tender enough that it can be cooked as is.
Provided by Alex Guarnaschelli
Categories side-dish
Time 1h15m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- I like asparagus al dente, slightly crunchy. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot over medium heat. Add salt until it tastes like mild seawater. How will you know? Take a little water with a spoon and taste it, then add the sugar.
- Prepare an ice bath by filling a bowl, large enough to hold the asparagus, with cold water. Add some ice cubes. Plunge the asparagus into the ice bath before cooking. This will help to bring any limp stalks back to life. Remove from the ice bath, plunge them into the boiling water and allow them to cook, 2 to 3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the water, transferring them immediately to the same ice bath. Allow them to sit in the ice bath for a few minutes, swirling them gently in the water to assure they are all cooling quickly in the cold water.
- The most important step for this dish? Drying the stalks once they are removed from the ice bath. Taking care that no water gets into the final salad is the best way to assure that the maximum flavor will be enjoyed! Transfer the asparagus to a large plate or platter lined with a kitchen towel and refrigerate.
- In a medium bowl, combine the lemon juice, white wine vinegar, honey and mustard. Stir to blend. Whisk in the olive oil in an even, steady stream. When all of the oil has been integrated, taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed.
- When ready to serve, remove the kitchen towel from the asparagus and simply toss the asparagus in the dressing to coat them completely. Arrange the stalks on plates and serve.
HOW TO COOK ASPARAGUS
Asparagus is incredibly flexible, and it's incredibly delicious too. David Tanis shows you how to cook it.
Provided by David Tanis
Number Of Ingredients 0
Steps:
- Asparagus is best and freshest in spring from a local source. Generally, the West Coast season runs from February to May; East Coast asparagus appears in May and June. Asparagus from Peru is available year-round, of course, but it is not as good.At the market, look for spears that are brightly colored and have compact, tightly closed tips. Spears that are ridged or look dry have lost their flavor. Check the root ends to see how dried out they are; if they are truly brown, reach for a different bundle.For stovetop cooking, a stainless steel or enamel-coated cast-iron pot is best. If you're stir-frying, you'll need a wok or a deep-sided cast iron skillet. For roasting, use a baking sheet or a small roasting pan.Asparagus cooks quickly, so make sure to have all your ingredients ready by the stove. It's best served warm or room temperature; ice-cold asparagus is unpleasant.
- Asparagus comes in different shades and sizes, and each has its strengths. Here are some tips on how best to choose, clean and store it. There are three colors of asparagus: green, purple and white. Green asparagus is by far the most common and is available year-round in American supermarkets. You'll find thin, medium and fat green spears in almost any market. Whatever its thickness, green asparagus should be cooked al dente. White asparagus is more common in Europe. It is white because the plants are covered in mulch to prevent them from developing chlorophyll, which gives plants their green color. White asparagus must be completely peeled from tip to tail, and, unlike green, should be well-cooked. It is a mistake to cook green and white asparagus together. Purple asparagus has a beautiful violet skin that turns dark green when cooked. Its taste is similar to that of green asparagus. Asparagus usually comes in three sizes: Pencil-thin, medium and jumbo. The thickness of the asparagus does not indicate its maturity; a thin asparagus spear does not grow into a fat one. What you'll choose is based on personal preference and what you're cooking. Some describe thin spears as grassy or thicker ones as meaty.Thin asparagus is great for stir fries and sautéing. Fat asparagus is good for roasting or grilling, and best when you want to serve whole spears, even simply steamed. Medium spears work in almost any cooking method. Store your asparagus in your crisper drawer, wrapped in a damp paper towel and then in a plastic bag, no longer than three days. Do not clean it first. Or you can store asparagus upright in a container with an inch of water. Place it in the fridge, uncovered.
- Before you begin cooking, take a minute to snap or cut off the tough bottom ends of the asparagus. If you have nice fat spears, peel their tough skin away too. We'll show you how. Snapping off woody asparagus bottoms gives you spears of slightly different lengths, but guarantees no tough ends when you sit down to eat. To snap, hold a spear with both hands and find the natural bending point near the bottom of the stalk. Then snap. Make sure your hands really are near the bottom, or you risk discarding too much; a stalk will snap in the middle if you're not careful. The spear should break at a point where the asparagus has started to lose its moisture.Cutting your spears is fine as long as you take care to avoid the woody ends. (But please, don't use the discarded ends to make anything but compost.)The skin on larger asparagus spears doesn't soften with cooking, which is why it's best to peel the lower stalks of medium or fat spears, both green and purple. Always peel white asparagus.To peel, place the spear flat on your work surface. Using a vegetable peeler, preferably one with a swivel blade, peel the asparagus from about halfway up the spear toward the root end. Never peel the tips. Use a light hand, or you'll peel off too much of the sweet core. Asparagus can be peeled a few hours ahead of time, wrapped and refrigerated.
- Roasting asparagus allows for a slight caramelizing of the vegetable's skin, and it's just luscious. It's also a fast way to get delicious asparagus on the table without standing at the stove.Here's a very simple method for roasting that just requires olive oil, salt and pepper, but you can add other spices as well: cayenne, red pepper flakes or smoked salt. Or try chopped walnuts, a sprinkle of grated Parmesan and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.Heat your oven to 425 degrees, and dress asparagus spears lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread them on a baking sheet or in a roasting pan in one layer and roast until lightly browned and sizzling, and just firm-tender. If you are roasting on a baking sheet, that should take 10 to 12 minutes, or about 15 minutes in a heavy-bottomed roasting pan. The trick here is getting the spears nicely colored without overcooking them, and you should always err on the undercooked side - asparagus will continue to cook off the heat.
- Simply steamed or simmered asparagus is delicious, and you can dress the spears however you like: in a bagna cauda, or a mixture of lemon juice and olive oil, or nothing at all. These are very easy cooking methods, and any size spear will work, although medium is best. We'll also tell you how to blanch asparagus, a useful method when incorporating the vegetable into other dishes. It's easy to cook asparagus in a steamer. Bring one inch of well-salted water to boil in a pot with a steamer insert, and place the spears in the steamer in a single layer. (If necessary, work in batches; do not pile in the asparagus or try to cook too many at a time.) Cover the pot and cook for about 3 minutes, depending upon size of spears. Err on the undercooked side - asparagus will continue to cook off the heat. Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon or tongs and blot the excess water away with a towel.Simmering asparagus is another easy way to cook asparagus quickly, and a good option if you don't own a steamer. In a wide pot, boil a few inches of generously salted water and add your asparagus. Cook at a rapid simmer for 2 to 4 minutes, depending on the size of your asparagus. Again, don't cook too many at one time; a dozen in the pot at once is plenty. Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon or tongs and blot to remove any remaining water. Old recipes sometimes call for using twine to tie asparagus into bundles, to make it easier to retrieve them from the water. If you do, blot the cooked bundle, transfer to a platter and snip the twine with kitchen shears. Some recipes, such as spring pasta dishes, call for blanching asparagus. It's easy to do. In a wide pot, boil a few inches of generously salted water and add your asparagus, either whole stalks or cut into pieces. Cook at a rapid simmer for 1 minutes. Then immediately plunge the spears into a bowl of ice water to halt the cooking and to keep them green. Remove from ice water and blot, otherwise risk waterlogged asparagus.
- Tender, sweet asparagus can be delicious raw and dressed simply with olive oil, lemon and salt. And you don't even need to turn on your stove.Fat asparagus works best in raw preparations, like this fast recipe for a delicious asparagus salad.Using a sharp, thin-bladed knife, slice 6 to 8 fat asparagus spears very thinly on the diagonal. (Alternatively, you can cut them on a mandoline, or use a peeler to slice them lengthwise into long, thin ribbons.) Pile them into a bowl and dress with 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoons olive oil and a few pinches of salt. Toss and serve.
- Asparagus is great quickly stir-fried or sautéed over high heat. You could sauté spears in butter or olive oil with delicious results, but throwing some chopped herbs or sliced chiles into the pan adds wonderful flavor. Both of these methods produce juicy asparagus that retains its crunch.Thin spears are best for sautéeing or stir-frying. For Asian recipes, use a wok if you have one; otherwise, a cast-iron skillet or large sauté pan will work fine. Here's a simple method for spicy wok-fried asparagus (you can leave out the spicy elements if you wish): Cut 6 to 8 cleaned and trimmed medium asparagus spears into 2-inch lengths. In a wok or cast-iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil until nearly smoking. Add the asparagus to the wok or skillet, season generously with salt and pepper and cook about 2 minutes until it is bright green, stirring constantly and making sure that the asparagus is coated completely with oil. Then, add 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon grated ginger and one finely chopped serrano or other hot chile pepper. Cook for another 30 seconds or so, then transfer to a serving platter and scatter on top a handful of chopped fresh basil, mint or cilantro leaves (or all three.) And here's how to sauté asparagus: Heat a skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Cut 6 to 8 cleaned and trimmed medium asparagus spears into 2-inch lengths. Add olive oil or butter to pan; when hot, add asparagus, season generously with salt and pepper and cook about 3 to 4 minutes, until bright green, shaking or stirring the pan frequently. The key is to cook the asparagus just enough so that the exterior browns a bit, but the interior remains crunchy. Finish it with anything you like: a squeeze of lemon, a favorite sweet vinegar, a fistful of chopped herbs.
- Frying asparagus is easier than it sounds, and results in crispy, tender spears that you won't want to stop eating. Don't forget a good dipping sauce.You'll need a deep heavy-bottomed pot, like a Dutch oven, to make tempura, and a thermometer to test the temperature of your oil. Medium spears work best. Here's an easy method:In your heavy-bottomed pot on the stovetop, heat three inches or so of vegetable oil until it reaches 360 degrees. While it heats, in a bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 2 tablespoons corn starch and ½ teaspoon salt. In a separate bowl, combine 2 cups ice water and 2 eggs, lightly beaten, and then add that to the flour mixture. Mix it briefly with a fork or chopsticks, but do not overbeat; lumps are fine. Dip your cleaned, snapped asparagus spears in the batter and drop them gently in the hot oil. Fry for about two minutes, until the spears are just lightly browned. Remove them from the oil with a slotted spoon or tongs and drain on absorbent paper.
BALSAMIC ASPARAGUS SALAD
For this asparagus salad, allow enough time to let the flavors blend for at least an hour. That's one of the secrets to why it tastes so delicious! If you're short on time, use 1/2 cup prepared balsamic vinaigrette instead of making it from scratch. -Dolores Brigham, Inglewood, California
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 20m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, bring 1 in. of water to a boil. Add asparagus; cover and boil for 3-4 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water. Drain and pat dry. Transfer to a large bowl; add the onion, red pepper and cranberries., In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the oil, vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper; shake well. Pour over asparagus mixture; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Just before serving, stir in almonds and bacon.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 139 calories, Fat 9g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 3mg cholesterol, Sodium 208mg sodium, Carbohydrate 12g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
ROASTED SWEET POTATOES AND ASPARAGUS
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 45m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with heavy-duty foil.
- 2. Put the sweet potatoes on the foil, drizzle with half of the oil and sprinkle with half of the celery salt and red pepper flakes. Turn with a spatula to coat. Roast until the potatoes are tender and beginning to shrivel, about 20 minutes.
- 3. While the potatoes are roasting, toss the asparagus with the remaining oil, celery salt and red pepper flakes in a medium bowl. Using a spatula, add the asparagus pieces to the sweet potato pan and toss to combine. Cook until the asparagus softens and the tips begin to brown, another 10 minutes. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the vegetables and cook until the cheese just melts and coats the vegetables, another 5 minutes. Spread the vegetables on a serving platter and sprinkle with the chopped parsley. Serve warm.
ASPARAGUS YAM SALAD
Every spring we get a bumper crop of asparagus and I make this as soon as I can. It's from the Company's Coming - Garden Greens book and it's absolutely fabulous and very different. The soft sweet potato, crisp asparagus, and crunchy pecans are a great combination of textures.
Provided by CountryMama
Categories Yam/Sweet Potato
Time 50m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Toss first four ingredients in a large bowl.
- Place on a greased baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in 375°F oven for 25 minutes, turning once.
- Drizzle with maple syrup . Stir and bake for another 15 minutes until browned. Place back in large bowl.
- Blanch asparagus in the boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes until bright green. Drain and plunge into ice water. Let stand 10 minutes until chilled. Drain and add to yam or sweet potato.
- Add pecans to veggies and toss.
- Dressing: Process mint, second amount of oil, chili sauce, vinegar and salt in blender. Drizzle over veggies and toss.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 334.5, Fat 17.2, SaturatedFat 2.2, Sodium 431.9, Carbohydrate 42.6, Fiber 8.4, Sugar 6.3, Protein 5.5
RADISH ASPARAGUS SALAD
Lemon zest and mustard in the dressing add the perfect punch to crisp asparagus and crunchy radishes in this fresh spring salad. My family loves it! -Nancy Latulippe, Simcoe, Ontario
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 25m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, bring 6 cups water to a boil. Add asparagus; cover and boil for 3 minutes. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water. Drain and pat dry., Transfer to a large bowl; add radishes and sesame seeds. Place dressing ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well. Pour over salad; toss to coat.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 73 calories, Fat 6g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 28mg sodium, Carbohydrate 5g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
More about "asparagus yam salad recipes"
ASPARAGUS SALAD RECIPE - LOVE AND LEMONS
From loveandlemons.com
5/5 (14)Category Salad, Side DishCuisine American
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and set a bowl of ice water nearby. Drop the asparagus into the boiling water and blanch for about 1 minute, until tender but still bright green. Transfer to the ice water for 1 minute, then drain. Transfer the asparagus to a kitchen towel to dry and wipe out the bowl.
- At the bottom of the bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add the asparagus and peas and toss until coated. Transfer to a platter, drizzle with some of the avocado dressing, top with feta, radishes, pine nuts, and mint or basil.
ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH FETA – A COUPLE COOKS
From acouplecooks.com
5/5 (1)Total Time 20 minsCategory SaladCalories 266 per serving
- Thinly slice the red onion into slivers. Place them in a bowl of water while you prepare the salad, then drain before using (this mellows the strong flavor). Thinly slice the radishes.
- To serve, clean and dry the salad greens as necessary. Place the greens on serving plates, then top with sauteed asparagus, red onion, radishes, feta cheese crumbles, and lemon zest. Drizzle with dressing and serve.
RAW ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH WALNUTS & PARMESAN - ALEXANDRA'S …
From alexandracooks.com
5/5 (35)Total Time 20 minsCategory Salad
- 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.
- 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.
- In a large bowl, combine the toasted walnuts, the 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.
ASPARAGUS, RADISH AND NEW POTATO SALAD | NIGELLA'S …
From nigella.com
CHOPPED ASPARAGUS SALAD - AHEAD OF THYME
From aheadofthyme.com
FRESH ASPARAGUS-TOMATO SALAD - EATINGWELL
From eatingwell.com
ASPARAGUS SALAD RECIPES
From allrecipes.com
ASPARAGUS, KUMARA, WALNUT AND PARMESAN SALAD
From nadialim.com
STUFFED SWEET POTATOES (5 WAYS!) - WHOLESOME YUM
From wholesomeyum.com
ASPARAGUS, BURRATA AND PROSCIUTTO SALAD RECIPE - GOOD …
From goodhousekeeping.com
10+ BEST ASPARAGUS SALAD RECIPES - HOW TO MAKE ASPARAGUS …
From delish.com
9 MAIN-COURSE SALAD RECIPES THAT ARE FRESH AND FILLING ENOUGH - THE ...
From washingtonpost.com
TAHINI RAMEN SALAD RECIPE - NYT COOKING
From cooking.nytimes.com
ASPARAGUS AND AVOCADO SALAD - DISHING OUT HEALTH
From dishingouthealth.com
10 BEST SWEET POTATO ASPARAGUS RECIPES | YUMMLY
From yummly.com
ASPARAGUS, TOMATO AND FETA SALAD WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE
From cookingclassy.com
SAUTEED ASPARAGUS WITH PEAS - THE YUMMY BOWL
From theyummybowl.com
21 ASPARAGUS RECIPES TO MAKE THIS SPRING - LOVE AND LEMONS
From loveandlemons.com
31 ASPARAGUS RECIPES THAT’LL PUT A SPRING IN YOUR STEP
From bonappetit.com
DUCK BREAST SALAD RECIPE - GREAT BRITISH CHEFS
From greatbritishchefs.com
30 BEST SPRING CHICKEN RECIPES - EASY SPRING CHICKEN IDEAS - DELISH
From delish.com
10 BEST ROASTED SWEET POTATOES AND ASPARAGUS RECIPES - YUMMLY
From yummly.com
GRILLED SWEET POTATO SALAD WITH ASPARAGUS - RECIPES | FOOBY.CH
From fooby.ch
PEAS, PLEASE! 3 FRESH PEA DISHES TO CELEBRATE THE END OF WINTER
From wbur.org
ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH LEMON VINAIGRETTE | THE RECIPE CRITIC
From therecipecritic.com
THE 10 MOST POPULAR RECIPES WE SHARED ON INSTAGRAM IN APRIL
From allrecipes.com
ORZO SALAD WITH ASPARAGUS, ARTICHOKE HEARTS AND FETA
From foodiecrush.com
VEGETABLE SIDE DISH RECIPE ROUNDUP - STONEGABLE
From stonegableblog.com
SHRIMP AVOCADO ASPARAGUS SALAD RECIPE – JAPANESE COOKING 101
From japanesecooking101.com
You'll also love