Asparagus Ham Salad With Mustard Dressing Recipes

SPRING ASPARAGUS, HAM AND POTATO SALAD - HONEY MUSTARD DRESSING

Steps:

• Make up the dressing by putting all the dressing ingredients into a jar and shaking it well. The dressing can be made up well in advance.
• Choose two attractive plates or bowls and start to assemble the salad.
• Place the potatoes on the plate/bowl first and then arrange the strips of ham & asparagus spears over the top - gently mix through to "just" mingle the ingredients together.
• Next, scatter the minced/finely diced red onion over and then the sliced cornichons - if you are using them.
• Pour over the honey & mustard dressing - giving the salad a liberal dousing!
• Season and scatter the chopped chives and/or the chopped chervil over the top.
• Serve with crusty bread & a glass of crisp, chilled white Chablis or Chardonnay!
• Optional ideas:.
• You could also add peas, broad beans, olives or crispy bacon!

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.

HAM AND ASPARAGUS ROLLS

Steps:

• Fill 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish half full with water and ice; set aside.
• In 12-inch skillet, heat 1 inch water to boiling over high heat. Snap or cut off tough ends of asparagus spears. Add asparagus to boiling water; cook uncovered 2 to 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove asparagus from skillet; place in baking dish with ice water. Let stand 3 to 5 minutes or until chilled. Drain; pat dry with paper towels. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix mayonnaise, mustard and thyme.
• Spread about 1 teaspoon mayonnaise mixture over each ham slice to within 1 inch of edges. Cut each ham slice in half lengthwise. Roll 1 ham strip tightly around each asparagus spear. Store tightly covered in refrigerator.

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.

ASPARAGUS HAM DINNER

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, saute asparagus and yellow pepper in oil until crisp-tender. Add tomatoes and ham; heat through. Drain pasta; add to mixture. Stir in parsley and seasonings. Sprinkle with cheese.

HAM STEAKS WITH ASPARAGUS-RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, chives and mustard in a bowl.
• Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Add the rice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper; reduce the heat to low and simmer until almost tender, about 15 minutes. Add the asparagus and simmer until the rice and asparagus are tender, about 3 more minutes. Drain in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse under cold water, stirring gently to remove excess water. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the lemon juice and half of the prepared chive sauce; season with salt and pepper.
• Heat the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ham steaks, overlapping as necessary, and cook, flipping occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the ham and cook, flipping often, until the sugar melts. Season with pepper. Serve with the rice salad, the remaining chive sauce and lemon wedges.