Anniversary Asparagus Potato Salad Recipes

ROASTED ASPARAGUS & POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Trim the top off the garlic heads leaving the rest of the bulb intact.
• After a good cleaning, quarter the potatoes and place in a large bowl. Add the oregano, thyme, oil and stock. Now add the two garlic bulbs and toss together. Pour into a baking pan and roast for 30 minutes or until the garlic and potatoes are tender. Check about 20 minutes in and if the pan is very dry add another tablespoon or two of broth.
• Remove potatoes from the oven and pour off any remaining liquid into a bowl. Let the potatoes and garlic cool.
• Clean and trim the asparagus into 2-inch pieces. Steam or boil until they are cooked crisp tender (3 to 5 minutes). Plunge into cold water to stop the cooking and drain.
• Take the roasted garlic and gently squeeze the soft cloves into the bowl of oil drained from the roasting pan. Stir to create a nice dressing. If it seems too thick, add a little more broth. The exact thickness is up to you but I like mine thicker than a vinaigrette but thinner than a mayonnaise type dressing. For me that's about 2-4 tablespoons. Season with salt and pepper.
• Toss together the roasted potatoes, asparagus, red onion, scallions and garlic dressing.
• Serve at room temperature.

MUSTARD-CRUSTED PORK CHOPS WITH ASPARAGUS-POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water by 1 inch; season with salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until tender, about 9 minutes, adding the asparagus during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain.
• Meanwhile, combine the breadcrumbs and 1 tablespoon tarragon in a shallow dish. Season the pork with 1/2 teaspoon salt, a few grinds of pepper and the paprika. Spread 1 tablespoon mustard on one side of the chops, then press, mustard-side down, into the crumb mixture.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the pork chops, crumb-side down, and cook until golden brown and just cooked through, about 4 minutes per side.
• Whisk the sour cream, vinegar and the remaining 1 tablespoon each mustard and tarragon in a large bowl. Add the potatoes and asparagus, the basil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper; toss. Serve with the pork chops.

NEW POTATO AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling water until just tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and cool slightly. Cook asparagus in large pot of boiling salted water until just crisp-tender, about 8 minutes. Drain. Refresh under cold water. Cut potatoes into wedges. Cut asparagus into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Toss vegetables together in large bowl.
• Combine mustard and lemon juice in small bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Pour over vegetables. Add chives and toss to coat. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Serve salad warm or at room temperature.

SALMON, ASPARAGUS AND NEW POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Scrub and steam or boil the potatoes until tender, using whatever potatoes you have available, but bearing in mind that the waxy fleshed variety such as fingerlings are particularly good in salads as they do not collapse. Cook the asparagus tips in lightly salted water. Steam, poach or grill the salmon.
• Skin or peel the potatoes, if you wish, and dice or slice them. Mix them with the asparagus and then with the dressing. If using mayonnaise and the potatoes are too hot, this will cause the mayonnaise the split. Grate in the lemon zest, add seasoning and the herbs, and fold into the salad. Spoon the potato and asparagus onto the plate, with a fillet of salmon on top. Whole herbs or baby greens can be used to garnish it, as can edible flowers.

ASPARAGUS-AND-POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss bread-crumbs with oil; season with salt and pepper. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and toast until crisp and just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Increase oven temperature to 475 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; add asparagus. Return to a boil and cook until crisp-tender, 30 to 60 seconds. Transfer to a plate. Add potatoes to pot; cook until just tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain. Arrange potatoes in the bottom of an 8 1/2-by-11 1/2-inch or 2-quart baking dish (about 1 1/2 inches deep).
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour; cook until it has a slightly nutty aroma, about 30 seconds. Gradually (to avoid lumps) whisk in milk. Bring mixture to a boil and cook, whisking, until thickened slightly, about 1 minute. Remove from heat; add both cheeses and whisk until melted. Season with salt and pepper.
• Pour half of sauce over potatoes. Arrange prosciutto and half of asparagus on top. Drizzle with remaining sauce. Top with remaining asparagus, then bread-crumbs. (Dish can be made to this point and refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 day; add 10 minutes to baking time.) Bake until bubbling around edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool slightly; serve, sprinkled with more Pecorino and chive blossoms.

CREAMY ASPARAGUS POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Cook 1 pound asparagus (trimmed, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces) in salted boiling water until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to ice water to cool; drain. Add 1 pound quartered baby potatoes to the boiling water and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes, then drain. Whisk 1/2 cup creme fraiche, 1/4 cup each chopped chervil and chives and 2 tablespoons each olive oil, white wine vinegar and chopped dill in a large bowl. Add the asparagus and potatoes; season with salt and pepper and toss. Refrigerate.