Asparagus And Serrano Ham Salad With Toasted Almonds Recipe Epicuriouscom

CRISPY PARMA HAM AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the eggs in a pan of boiling water for exactly 8 minutes. Sit a steamer or colander over the eggs, put in the asparagus, cover and cook for 4-5 minutes until just tender - alternatively, cook in a pan of water for 2-3 minutes.
• Drain the eggs and asparagus and cool under cold water.
• Melt the butter in a small pan than, with a wire whisk, beat in some lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
• Heat a ridged griddle pan. Cook the slices of parma ham, two at a time in the hot pan for 30 seconds on each side. Set aside on kitchen paper. Cook the asparagus in the hot pan for 2-3 minutes to give light bar marks.
• Shell and halve the eggs and arrange on four plates with the asparagus, topped with the crispy parma ham. Drizzle over the lemon butter dressing. Scatter over some shaved parmesan and top with a good grind of black pepper. A glass or two of chilled white wine is the perfect accompaniment to this dish.

SALAD OF GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH TALEGGIO CHEESE AND SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Prepare barbecue (medium heat) and preheat oven to 425°F. Whisk vinegar, shallot and sugar in small bowl until sugar dissolves. Gradually whisk in oil. Season dressing with salt and pepper.
• Arrange asparagus on rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons dressing. Sprinkle asparagus with salt and pepper. Grill asparagus until crisp-tender, turning occasionally, about 6 minutes. Return asparagus to same sheet. Drizzle with additional 1/3 cup dressing; top with cheese. Bake until cheese melts, about 5 minutes. Place greens in large bowl. Add 1/4 cup dressing and toss to coat. Using spatula, divide asparagus among 6 plates. Arrange greens alongside. Drape ham over greens. Sprinkle pine nuts over salads. Serve with remaining dressing.

SERRANO HAM SALAD WITH ALMOND GARLIC SAUCE

Steps:

• Mince garlic and mash to a paste with salt using a heavy knife or a mortar and pestle. Transfer to a blender along with 1/2 cup almonds, water, oil, vinegar, hot sauce, and black pepper, then blend until dressing is very smooth, about 1 minute. Coarsely chop remaining 2 tablespoons almonds.
• Cut a lengthwise slit in peppers and discard any seeds, then cut peppers into 1/4-inch-wide strips.
• Divide romaine and peppers among 4 plates, then arrange ham on top. Drizzle each serving with some dressing and sprinkle with chopped almonds. Serve remaining dressing on the side.
• *Available at specialty foods shops, some supermarkets, and The Spanish Table (206-682-2827).

ASPARAGUS WITH SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Place half the olive oil in a roasting pan that will hold the asparagus spears in a single layer. Swirl it around so that it covers the bottom of pan. Cut each slice of Serrano ham in half lengthwise.
• Trim and discard the coarse woody ends of the asparagus spears, then wrap each stem end in a slice of ham. Place the wrapped spears in the prepared roasting pan and lightly brush with the remaining olive oil. Season with pepper.
• Roast asparagus spears for 10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus, until tender but still firm. Do not overcook; keep them firm enough so that you can pickup with your fingers.
• Serve piping hot and with your favorite Aioli Sauce for dipping.

ASPARAGUS WRAPPED WITH SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Wrap each asparagus spear with a slice of ham.
• Place wrapped spears in a single layer in a baking dish.
• Sprinkle with black pepper and drizzle with olive oil.
• Roast for 10 minutes.

ASPARAGUS WITH SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Cook 1 bunch asparagus (trimmed and peeled) in salted boiling water until crisp-tender, 2 minutes. Drain and let cool, then pat dry. Wrap each spear with a slice of serrano ham. For the dip: Puree 1/2 cup mayonnaise with 1/4 cup roasted red peppers, 1/2 teaspoon sherry vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon hot smoked paprika.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WRAPPED IN SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet with canola oil spray.
• Lay a slice of ham on a work surface. Place a stalk of asparagus perpendicular to the ham, with the tip of the asparagus just higher than the top edge of the ham. Roll the asparagus on a diagonal, tightly wrapping the ham around the stalk as you go. (The ham should cover the entire stalk except for about an inch on the top and bottom ends.) Repeat with the remaining asparagus and ham.
• Place the asparagus, seam-side down, on the prepared baking sheet and lightly grease the tops with canola oil spray. Bake until the ham is crispy and the asparagus has softened and begun to char at the tips, about 15 minutes. Immediately pour the orange juice over the hot asparagus and season with salt. (The orange juice will almost completely evaporate on the hot baking sheet, but it will infuse the asparagus with orange flavor.)
• Transfer the asparagus to a serving plate and garnish with the orange zest. Serve immediately.

ELSA'S HAM AND ASPARAGUS TOASTS

Steps:

• Holding 1 spear at each end snap off the tough stem of asparagus. Use this spear as a guide line to trim the bundle with a sharp knife. Simmer asparagus in salted boiling water 3 minutes. Drain and run under cold water. Cut asparagus to fit the size of the toasts.
• Toast 8 thick slices of farmhouse style bread under a preheated broiler 6 inches from heat. Combine softened butter and mustard. Spread the toasted bread with mustard butter. Cut sliced ham into smaller pieces to process. Grind the ham in your food processor. Spread the toast with ground ham. Arrange steamed asparagus spears on top of the layer of ham. Top each toast with a few grinds of black pepper and a mound of fontina cheese. Return toasts to hot oven under broiler and cook toasts until cheese melts and lightly browns at edges. Arrange ham and asparagus toast on a platter and serve.

ASPARAGUS, HAM, AND POACHED EGG SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare a large bowl of ice water.
• Fill the pasta pot with 3 quarts of water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the coarse salt and the asparagus. Blanch, uncovered, until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. (Cooking time will vary according to the size and tenderness of the asparagus.) Immediately remove the colander from the water, letting the water drain from the asparagus. Plunge the asparagus into the ice water so they cool down as quickly as possible and retain their crispness and bright green color. (The asparagus will cool in 1 to 2 minutes. After that, they will soften and begin to lose crispness and flavor.) Drain the asparagus and wrap it in a thick kitchen towel to dry. (Do not cook the asparagus in advance or it will lose its crispness.)
• Break each egg into a ramekin or small cup. Set aside. In a large, shallow saucepan, bring 2 inches of water to a boil. Add the vinegar. One by one, bring the edge of a ramekin or cup level with the surface of the water and slide the egg in gently. Turn off the heat and cover the pan. Poach the eggs until the whites are firm but the yolks are still runny and are covered with a thin, translucent layer of white, about 3 minutes.
• With the sieve or slotted spoon, carefully lift the eggs from the water and transfer them to several thicknesses of paper towels.
• Place the salad greens and chives in a large salad bowl. Toss with just enough dressing to coat the greens lightly and evenly.
• Place the asparagus on a large plate and add just enough dressing to lightly coat the spears. Roll the asparagus in the dressing.
• Arrange the dressed greens at one side of each of 4 large dinner plates. (Rectangular plates are particularly beautiful here.) Carefully place a poached egg alongside. Arrange 4 asparagus spears next to the eggs. Carefully drape a slice of ham over each of the poached eggs. Season the greens lightly with fine sea salt and generously with pepper. Sprinkle with chives. Serve with the toast.

ASPARAGUS WRAPPED IN SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Whisk oil, vinegar, shallot, salt and pepper in a bowl. Set aside. Cook asparagus in simmering water until soft but still crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Rinse under cold water and drain. Wrap a strip of ham around each asparagus stalk. Toss frisée, greens and grapes with dressing in a bowl, then transfer to a platter; top with asparagus. Garnish with almonds.