Asparagus Garden Salsa Recipes

ASPARAGUS SALSA

Steps:

• Place the asparagus, carrots, radishes and red onions in a food processor and pulse a few times until the vegetables are finely diced but not pureed.
• Transfer to a large bowl and add the dill, scallions, serrano chile, lemon zest and juice. Mix together well, season to taste with salt and pepper and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour to allow the flavors to develop if time allows. The salsa can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

ASPARAGUS SALSA

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients.
• Cover and chill thoroughly, about 3 hours.
• Store in an airtight container in refrigerator.

ASPARAGUS AND EGG WRAP WITH BARN BURNER CHILE DE ARBOL SALSA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven 375 degrees F.
• Warm tortillas over your stove burner (a little scorching adds to the flavor and personality) set aside. Place in a tea towel or napkin to keep them warm.
• In a saute pan over medium high heat, saute the onion and garlic in the oil for 1 minute.
• Add the potato, mushrooms, and tomatoes, and cook 5 minutes. Add the asparagus and the kale and cook, tossing, for 2 minutes. Add the herbs and lime juice and season with salt and pepper.
• Add the egg whites and cook until the eggs are cooked through, approximately 3 minutes. Place 2 tablespoons of the egg mixture in lower part of each tortilla and roll them up.
• For lunch or as an appetizer, toast them in a dry saute pan over medium low heat until toasty, roll them on the other side and toast. Pop it on a plate and serve with salsa.
• For dinner, lightly spray oven-proof dish with vegetable spray and carefully place the wraps seam side down. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake on the center rack in the oven for 20 minutes or until the wraps are very hot.
• Serve with salsa.
• Rinse and seed chiles. Place in a saute pan over medium heat and toast in the oil until all are deep brown. Set aside. Place the onion, tomatoes and oregano in a saucepan with the water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer 1 minute or until the tomatoes are soft.
• Strain the cooked ingredients from the cooking liquid. Toss liquid and place the toasted chiles with a quarter of the cooked ingredients plus the garlic into a blender and puree until smooth, 10 to 12 seconds. Add cilantro and the remaining cooked ingredients and pulse until chunky. Season with salt, to taste, and set aside until ready to use. Serve hot or cold.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Arrange an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Trim about 1 inch off the bottom of the asparagus and discard. Arrange the asparagus in a single layer on the baking sheet and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Place the baking sheet in the center of the oven and roast until slightly tender and lightly browned, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the mustard and vinegar to a medium blow. Grate the zest of the lemon into the bowl and squeeze in the juice. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil. Mince the garlic and add to the bowl. Mince the anchovies and add to the bowl along with the anchovy oil. Finely chop the parsley, including the stems, and add to the bowl. Chop the mint leaves and add to the bowl. Cut off and discard the woody bottoms of the tarragon. Chop the remaining tarragon and add to the bowl. Chop the pickle and add to the bowl along with the pickle brine. Mix together with a spoon and taste for seasoning. Refrigerate if not using immediately.
• Season the asparagus with salt and drizzle with the honey. Spoon some of the salsa verde over the asparagus and transfer to a platter. Top with additional salsa verde.

ASPARAGUS WITH SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Trim the asparagus by snapping off the woody, tough ends, and peel thick asparagus. It will look and taste better. Bring a quart or two of water to a boil in a wide pan, generously salt to taste.
• FOR THE PICKLED RED ONION: While the water is coming to a boil, pickle the red onion and make the sauce. To make the pickled red onion, peel a whole, small red onion, then slice it thinly into rounds. Separate the rounds and put them in a bowl, then cover with a white wine or rice wine vinegar and a few pinches salt. Toss them with your finger so that they are all coated, then refrigerate until you need them. It takes only about 10 to 15 minutes for the color to blossom.
• FOR THE ORANGE ZEST: Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Zest a few strips of orange peel in wide bands. Julienne the bands into thin strips and blanch in boiling water for 10 to 15 seconds. Drain and chop half of the orange rinds into a fine dice. Set aside.
• Add the trimmed, peeled (if necessary) asparagus to the wide pan of salted boiling water, and cook until it is tender and bright green, about 5 minutes for thin asparagus, 7 to 8 minutes if it is thick. Set the cooked asparagus on a towel to drain briefly.
• FOR THE SAUCE: Meanwhile, combine the chopped parsley and capers in a bowl. Mince half the slivered orange zest and add it to the bowl along with half of the pickled onion, minced. Stir in the mustard, orange juice, vinegar, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• TO FINISH: Drain the asparagus. Lay the asparagus on a platter. Ladle the sauce over the stems and garnish with the remaining slivers of orange peel and pickled onion.Suggestions: You can vary the taste by using aromatic sesame or peanut oils in place of the olive oil. Both flavors go well with asparagus and also harmonize with orange. Keep the parsley or use cilantro instead if you're wild for that herb. Other spring herbs to consider including are tarragon, lovage, chives and chervil and all are excellent with asparagus.

ASPARAGUS GREMOLATA

Steps:

• Place asparagus in a medium bowl, add ice water to cover, and swirl asparagus with your hands. Drain through a fine-mesh sieve and return asparagus to bowl. Repeat process 2 more times (this will keep asparagus crunchy). Pat dry; wipe out bowl.
• Toss asparagus, scallions, lemon zest, garlic, cilantro, vinegar, and chile in dry bowl to combine. Add salt and sugar and toss again to combine.

QUESADILLA WITH GOAT CHEESE, ASPARAGUS, MUSHROOMS AND ROASTED TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Saute the asparagus, mushrooms and onions, about 4 minutes. Add the wine and some salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Wrap the tomatillos and chiles in aluminum foil and place over an open flame for about 5 minutes on each side. Transfer to a blender with the garlic clove and 1/3 cup water. Blend until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
• Wrap the tortillas in a clean, damp dishcloth and place in the microwave for 2 minutes.
• Fill each tortilla with a little jack cheese and about 1 tablespoon asparagus filling. Fold in half like a taco.
• Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Pan-fry the folded quesadillas in batches until golden and crispy, about 3 minutes on each side. Set aside on paper towels to drain any oil.
• Serve each quesadilla with some goat cheese crumbled on top and garnish with fresh cilantro.