Asparagus Crepes Recipes

BUCKWHEAT CREPES WITH ASPARAGUS, HAM AND GRUYèRE

Steps:

• Make the batter: Whisk together flours, eggs, buttermilk and salt until well combined. Put the batter in the fridge for at least 2 hours or, preferably, overnight. If necessary, thin batter with a little more buttermilk or water, to the consistency of heavy cream.
• Heat a crepe pan or well-seasoned cast iron skillet, about 8 inches in diameter, over medium-high heat. Use a piece of paper towel to rub a little butter in the pan, then quickly ladle in about 1/4 cup of batter. Swirl the pan to spread the batter all the way to the perimeter. Let crepe brown on one side for a minute or so, until crisp. Flip it over with a spatula (or carefully with your fingers) and cook one minute more. Don't worry about browning the second side. Adjust heat if crepe browns too quickly; the pan needn't be scorching hot. Remove from heat if crepe is cooking too quickly.
• Remove the crepe from the pan and set it aside while you continue to make 5 more. Stack crepes on top of each other as they are finished. (Crepes may be made in advance.)
• Bring a medium pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook the asparagus for 2 minutes, or just until it is firm-tender, then drain and spread on a clean kitchen towel to cool.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Fill the crepes by laying each one top-side down, place a slice of ham on top, sprinkle generously with cheese, and lay 3 asparagus spears on top, off to one side. Fold over to make a half-moon.
• Put the filled crepes in one layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle with a little melted butter, then bake until they are crisp and the cheese is melted, about 5 to 7 minutes. Serve immediately.

SAVORY CREPE ROLLUPS

Steps:

• Lay crepe flat on a clean work surface. In a bowl, stir together cream cheese, lemon zest, and juice; season with salt and pepper. Spread evenly to edges of crepe. Cut crepe in half.
• Blanch asparagus in generously salted boiling water until crisp tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to an ice water bath until cold; drain and pat dry. Top each crepe half with 2 slices prosciutto and 2 blanched asparagus spears, laying them parallel to long, cut side of crepe, leaving a 1/2-inch border at cut edges.
• Starting at rounded ends, tightly roll each half to enclose filling, gently pressing long, cut end to adhere. To serve, trim ends and cut crosswise into approximate 1-inch pieces of "sushi."
• For salmon variation, sprinkle chopped scallions over cream cheese, replace prosciutto with smoked salmon, and omit asparagus.

ASPARAGUS ROLLED IN HERB CRêPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter or oil two baking dishes. Steam the asparagus until tender, about five minutes. Divide into 12 portions, and place a portion on each crêpe. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, gruyère and chives. Roll up and place in the prepared baking dishes.
• Sprinkle the Parmesan over the crêpes, and drizzle on the olive oil. Bake 15 to 20 minutes until bubbling; the edges of the crêpes should be just beginning to crisp. Serve hot.

CHICKEN AND ASPARAGUS CREPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Butter a large baking dish. Combine the chicken, ricotta, 1/2 cup parmesan, 3 tablespoons herbs, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Spoon about 1/4 cup filling across the lower half of each crepe; roll up to enclose the filling. Place the crepes, seam-side down, in the baking dish. Cover with foil and bake until the filling is hot, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallot and cook until it softens, about 1 minute. Add the asparagus and cook until just tender, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken broth, lemon zest and the remaining 1 tablespoon herbs and simmer until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup parmesan and season with salt and pepper.
• Divide the crepes among plates, top with the asparagus and sauce, and sprinkle with parmesan.

ASPARAGUS PROSCIUTTO CREPES WITH WHITE WINE BRIE SAUCE FOR TWO

Steps:

• Cook the asparagus to your liking and set aside.
• Remove the rind from the brie and tear or cut into pieces; set aside.
• In a medium skillet, melt the 1/4 tablespoon butter; add the mushrooms; saute for about 4 minutes.
• Add the onion and continue to saute until the onion is translucent (about 3 more minutes). Set aside.
• In a medium sauce pan, melt the 3 tablespoons butter; add the flour, stirring until smooth. I cooked this mixture on medium-medium high for about two minutes trying to get it to brown, but no luck.
• Slowly add the chicken stock, one 1/2 cup at a time, stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
• Once the stock is incorporated, slowly stir in the white wine as you stir to avoid lumps.
• Add the garlic powder and ground black pepper.
• Turn heat up to medium high and stir so the mixture is very hot, but not boiling.
• Add the sour cream and stir briskly. The lumps will dissipate as you continue to cook the sauce.
• Stir in the brie pieces; turn heat down to medium low.
• Add in the parsley and sauteed mushrooms and onions.
• Continue to heat the sauce, stirring occasionally until all lumps are removed.
• At this point, you can either create your crepes or use your prepared crepes. I made my crepes while my sauce softly simmered.
• Place one slice of prosciutto on the crepe.
• Place four spears of asparagus on the crepe. Roll up the crepe.
• Top with the sauce.
• Serve and enjoy!

CHICKEN CREPES WITH ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Make filling:
• Heat 5 tablespoons butter in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until foam subsides. Whisk in flour and cook roux, whisking, until pale golden, about 2 minutes. Gradually add milk and broth, whisking, and bring to a boil, whisking. Reduce heat and simmer gently, whisking frequently, until velouté sauce is silky and thick, about 25 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup sauce for topping.
• Cook shallot in remaining tablespoon butter in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Stir into velouté sauce along with chicken and Sherry.
• Cut tips from asparagus and set aside. Cut enough stalks into 1/4-inch pieces to measure 1 cup, reserving remainder for another use. Cook tips in a saucepan of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl of ice and cold water with a slotted spoon. Scoop out tips and drain on paper towels, then reserve for topping. Cook and drain chopped asparagus in same manner and stir into velouté sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
• Make crêpes:
• Sift together flour, salt, nutmeg, and pepper to taste into a bowl. Whisk together milk, whole egg, and yolk in a small bowl, then gradually whisk into flour mixture. Force batter through a fine sieve into a bowl.
• Heat a dry 7- to 8-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot, then brush very lightly with some melted butter. Spoon about 2 tablespoons batter into skillet, tilting to coat bottom. (If batter sets before skillet is coated, reduce heat slightly for next crêpe.) Cook until underside is lightly browned, 6 to 10 seconds, then loosen crêpe with a spatula and flip. Cook until just cooked through, about 20 seconds, and transfer to a plate. Make 15 more crêpes in same manner, brushing skillet with melted butter as needed and stacking crêpes on plate.
• Assemble and bake crêpes:
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Spread 1/4 cup filling across center of 1 crêpe and roll into a cylinder. Transfer, seam side down, to buttered baking dish, then assemble more crêpes in same manner, fitting them snugly. Bake in middle of oven 15 minutes.
• Make topping while crêpes bake:
• Stir together yolk, 2 tablespoons cream, and reserved 1/2 cup sauce until smooth. Beat remaining 3 tablespoons cream with a whisk until it holds soft peaks, then fold into yolk mixture.
• Spoon topping over crêpes and broil 5 to 6 inches from heat until lightly browned, about 2 minutes.
• Heat butter in skillet, then add reserved asparagus tips and toss until warm.
• Put 2 crêpes on each of 8 plates and top with asparagus tips.