Barbs Asparagus Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Heat a 3- quart saucepan over medium-high heat and add barley. Toast in the pan, shaking pan or stirring grains until they begin to smell a little bit like popcorn. Add water and bring to a boil. Add salt to taste (I suggest 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon for 1 cup barley), reduce heat, cover and simmer 45 to 50 minutes, until barley is tender (it will always be chewy). Drain off any liquid remaining in the pot through a strainer (set it over a bowl if you think you might want to use the barley water in a stock or risotto - it'll keep for a day in the refrigerator). Shake strainer and return barley to the pot. Cover pot with a clean dishtowel and return the lid. Allow barley to sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, roast asparagus and make dressing. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Snap off woody ends of the asparagus and place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Add olive oil and salt and pepper to taste and toss together until all of the asparagus is coated with oil (I do this with my hands). Make sure that asparagus is in one layer on the baking sheet in the pan and place in oven. Roast for about 12 minutes, or until tender and beginning to shrivel. It should be browned in spots. Remove from heat.
• Whisk together lemon juice, vinegar, salt, lemon zest, garlic, and mustard. Whisk in olive oil.
• Transfer cooked barley to a large bowl. Add herbs and vinaigrette and toss together until barley is evenly coated with dressing. Arrange on a platter or on plates. Lay stalks of roasted asparagus on over the top, and serve.

Steps:

• Place a large saucepan of heavily salted water over high heat. In another large saucepan, combine sugar with 3/4 cup water. Place over medium-low heat, and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add wine, rhubarb juice or grenadine, and peppercorns.
• Bring to a simmer, and add rhubarb. Simmer until rhubarb is cooked through but not soft, about 5 minutes. Drain, rinse to remove peppercorns, and drain again.
• Fill a bowl with ice water. Place asparagus in boiling salted water, and blanch until bright green and barely tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Immediately transfer asparagus to ice water. When asparagus is chilled, drain well, and refrigerate.
• In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice and mustard. Whisk in olive oil to make a smooth vinaigrette.
• Place salad greens and herb mixture in a large serving bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Slice rhubarb vertically into long, thin strips, and set aside. Slice each asparagus stalk into 3-inch pieces, and set aside. To serve, arrange alternating pieces of asparagus and rhubarb to make a rectangle on each of four plates. Place mound of greens near rectangle, and drizzle a small amount of vinaigrette over asparagus and rhubarb.

Steps:

• For the barley: In a medium stockpot, combine barley, stock, and 1½ teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook uncovered until barley is cooked through, about 45 minutes.
• For the onion mixture: Chop the shallots by cutting off the bottoms to make them flat. Then cut into the shallot lengthwise, leaving the root end intact; cut down and across for a clean dice. Peel the garlic by smashing it with the back of the knife. Remove the peel, cut the hard root off, and thinly slice. Slice the onion at an angle into half-moon shapes. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a skillet over medium heat, followed by the shallots and onion. Add ½ teaspoon salt and the pepper; sweat until translucent, 1-2 minutes. Add the garlic and chili flakes and cook until onions are thoroughly softened. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
• For the mushrooms and asparagus: Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a skillet over medium-high heat, followed by the mushrooms. Add a ½ teaspoon of salt and cook until they have released their liquid and begun to caramelize around the edges. Add the onion mixture back into the pan and set aside. Meanwhile, trim the asparagus by snapping the tough woody ends where they naturally break. Cut diagonally, on a bias.
• Once the grains have opened up and are plump, drain the barley. Spread in a single layer on a sheet tray to cool down. Reheat the mushroom/onion mixture and add the thyme, asparagus, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Toss and cook for 1 minute; then remove to the sheet tray with the barley. Use a vegetable peeler to shave the Parmesan; set aside.
• Assemble the dish: Place the cooled barley and asparagus mixture into a large mixing bowl. Toss, taste to adjust seasoning, and drizzle the vinegar and 1 teaspoon of olive oil around the edge of the bowl, followed by the Parmesan shavings. Gently toss again, taste for seasoning, and serve.

Steps:

• Heat shallot and oil in microwave safe covered dish for 30 seconds or in a small pan on the stovetop over medium low heat for 5 minutes. Allow oil to cool back to room temperature.
• Hold a spear of asparagus at each end and snap it. The spear breaks where the tender tops meet the tough bottoms. Line the broken spear up with the bundle of cleaned asparagus. Cut the spears using the guideline of the snapped spear. Par boil the asparagus tops in 1 inch simmering water covered for 3 to 5 minutes. Cool under cold running water and drain. Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces on an angle and add to a bowl. Combine chopped, cooked asparagus with shredded endive, red bell pepper, cooked pasta, green peas and chopped parsley. The peas will defrost as you toss salad. Pour vinegar into a small bowl and whisk in cooled shallot oil. Pour dressing over salad and toss. Season salad with salt and pepper, to your taste and toss again.

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.

Steps:

• Wash asparagus and snap off ends.
• Cut on diagonal and blanche (add asparagus to boiling water and cook until tender while still maintaining a bright green color---then remove, drain and immediately immerse in a cold bath of ice water.) When all ingredients are prepared as instructed, toss asparagus, Mandarin oranges, grapes, carrots, celery, and green onions together with dressing.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste and top with toasted sliced or slivered almonds.