Sunny Asparagus Tapenade Recipes

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring 1/2 in. of water to a boil. Add asparagus; cover and cook for 3-5 minutes or until tender. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water. Drain and pat dry., Place in a food processor; add the parsley, sunflower kernels, lemon juice, orange juice, oil, syrup, garlic, salt, pepper flakes and pepper. Cover and process until desired consistency., Transfer to a small bowl; sprinkle with additional sunflower kernels if desired. Serve at room temperature or chilled with the dippers of your choice.

Steps:

• Add 1 cup of the flour to each baking dish. Set one aside for your dredging station. In the other add the spice blend, lemon zest and a nice pinch of salt, and whisk. Slowly stir in the beer until the batter thickens to a pancake consistency. If there is a sip of beer leftover, don't waste it, drink it! Rest the batter for 5 minutes.
• Fill a large pot 3- to 4-inches deep with oil and heat until a deep-fry thermometer reaches 350 degrees F. To fry, first dredge the asparagus in the flour, then shake off lightly and run through the batter. Immediately and gently lower the asparagus into the oil. Fry until the batter is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Cook in batches to avoid overloading the pot, which reduces the overall temperature of the oil. Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt. Repeat for the remaining asparagus. Serve warm with the chilled Moroccan Spice Dip.
• In a medium bowl stir together the mayonnaise, onion pulp, parsley, sour cream, lemon juice and spice blend. Taste the dip and season with a pinch of salt, if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic, and cook, stirring until tender, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Add the asparagus and sauté 4 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the asparagus is very tender, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool at least 5 minutes.
• Working in batches if necessary, carefully transfer the soup to a blender, filling it no more than halfway. Keep the lid slightly ajar and puree on high speed until smooth. Return the soup to the saucepan, stir in the sour cream and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowls, dust with the paprika and serve.

Steps:

• Combine garlic, olives, anchovies, capers, thyme, rosemary and lemon juice in an electric blender. Slowly drip the olive oil into the blender while you are blending the ingredients together. Blend until a paste is formed.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring 1/2 inches of water to a boil. Add asparagus; cover and cook for 3-5 minutes or until tender. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water. Drain and pat dry.
• Place in a food processor; add the parsley, sunflower kernels, lemon juice, orange juice, oil, syrup, garlic, salt, pepper flakes and pepper. Cover and process until desired consistency.
• Transfer to a small bowl; sprinkle with additional sunflower kernels if desired. Serve at room temperature or chilled with the dippers of your choice.

Steps:

• In a small pan, over medium heat, add the vinegar, zest and juice of the lemon and a pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer and let the mixture reduce until it becomes syrupy, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, warm a grill pan over medium-high heat. Wash and trim the ends of the asparagus. Toss the asparagus lightly with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Grill asparagus 5 minutes, then flip and grill until slightly blackened on both sides, about 4 minutes more. Transfer the asparagus to a serving platter, drizzle with balsamic syrup and serve.

Steps:

• For the soup: Preheat a grill for direct and indirect cooking or oven to 400 degrees F. If using a grill, set a wire rack directly on the grill grate.
• Brush the asparagus and scallions all over with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and place over the direct heat of the grill. Cook, turning a few times, until limber and partially charred, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove to a cutting board.
• Make the toast: In a small bowl mix the jam and sambal. Spread on the cut side of the rolls. Divide and pile the cheese on top of the jam on each roll and place over the indirect heat of the grill (directly on the grates or on a baking sheet). Cook, covered, until the cheese is melted, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Build the soup. Transfer the grilled veggies to a cutting board and roughly chop. Add to the jar of a blender. Add the stock, yogurt and parsley and blend until smooth.
• Put the soup, lemon zest, garlic and salt to taste in a medium pot over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to warm through. Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed.
• To finish the soup: In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, lemon juice and honey. Pour the soup into bowls. Spoon 3 drops of the yogurt mixture into each bowl and run a skewer in a circle through the yogurt mixture to make a decorative pattern.
• Serve the toast alongside the soup.