Asparagus Timbales Recipes

ASPARAGUS TIMBALE

Steps:

• Cut asparagus into 1 inch pieces. In a small frying pan, melt the butter and saute the scallion and asparagus for a few minutes until both are fairly soft. Place the mixture in the bottom of a well-oiled 1 quart casserole.
• In a bowl, beat the cheese, milk, salt and tarragon into the egg. Pour this mixture over the asparagus mixture in the casserole.
• Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Let cool for 10 minutes, then serve.

VEGETABLE TIMBALES

Steps:

• Preheat oven broiler. Cut peppers in half and remove seeds and membranes. Place, skin side up, on baking sheet under hot broiler, until skin blackens and blisters. Cool and peel away skin.
• Steam the carrots until they are soft. Drain.
• Wash watercress and put in sauce pan with just the water clinging to the leaves. Cover pan and steam watercress for 2 minutes. Drain, cool and squeeze dry with your hands.
• Puree each vegetable individually in food processor, adding a third of the cream to the carrots to make a smooth puree.
• Pour the pepper puree into a small sauce pan and stir over moderate heat until thickened.
• Put each puree into its own bowl to cool. Divide remaining cream between pepper and watercress purees.
• Butter 4 timbale molds. Preheat oven to 325°F
• Stir 2 egg yolks into each puree. Divide last yolk between watercress and pepper purees. Season each with salt, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg.
• Divide carrot puree equally among timbale molds. Smooth the surface. Repeat with watercress puree. Smooth surface and repeat with pepper puree.
• Put the molds in a roasting pan and pour hot water around molds, about half-way up sides of molds.
• Bake 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
• Remove molds from pan and cool slightly on wire rack.
• To serve, hold plate on top of each timbale and then turn it upside down. Give the plate and timbale a sharp shake and timbale should release itself.
• Serve warm with salad and baguette.

CREAMY ASPARAGUS "SOUFFLE"

Steps:

• Reserve 6 asparagus tips for garnishing.
• Trim asparagus, remove the thorns and cut into pieces.
• Melt butter in a saucier or skillet and saute asparagus, including reserved tips, and shallots until tender.
• Remove tips for garnish and set aside.
• Whisk in flour and cook for 45-50 seconds.
• Add cream to pan, simmer for 5 minutes.
• Transfer to a blender or food processor, or use a stick blender in the saucier.
• Add eggs and seasonings, then puree mixture.
• Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
• Pour into 6 lightly buttered 1 cup ramekins.
• Stand ramekins in a water bath of boiling water in a baking pan (13 X 9).
• Bake at 325°F for 15 to 20 minutes or until slightly set.
• Place reserved tips on top of each souflle, pressing it in slightly.
• If planning to unmold these souflles, do not garnish until they are turned out of the ramekins.
• Continue baking for 10 to 15 more minutes, till just barely starting to brown at the edges. A thin knife blade should come out clean.
• Cool slightly.
• Serve hot or cold.
• These can be left in the ramekins, or unmolded.
• To unmold, let the souflles cool for 5 to 10 minutes, run a thin knife blade around the sides and turn out onto a plate or platter.
• Place the reserved asparagus tips on top of each souflle.

TIMBALE OF GRAINS WITH WILD MUSHROOMS, ASPARAGUS AND A SAUCE OF GOAT'S FETA

Steps:

• Separately rinse the grains, then cook barley, wheat berries and rices, each in a separate pot, starting in clean, cold water with aromatic herbs in each. Just prior to each grain becoming tender, season with salt and pepper.
• When just fully cooked pour any excess water from each pot and spread grains out on a shallow baking pan and cool quickly.
• Season and steep couscous in an equal volume of cold water or even better a combination of orange juice and water. Allow to rehydrate then rub grains between your hands to fluff them.
• Heat butter in large saute pan (preferably nonstick), and saute vegetables and garlic until tender.
• Season, add thyme, nuts and all the prepared grains and saute them together.
• Adjust seasoning.
• Meanwhile reduce vegetable stock and wine by 2/3. Add cream and bring to boil, reduce slightly. Add cheese and melt to thicken. Season and add thyme.
• Season (you may not need any salt depending on the feta you are using, but freshly cracked pepper in the sauce is a must).
• Shape the hot grains in a timbale mold. Pour the sauce around. Accompany with a saute of asparagus spears (start with approximately 1 pound, trimmed and blanched) and mixed wild mushrooms (again, start with a scant pound, trimmed and cut into different shapes).
• Garnish with herb sprigs.

CHILLED ASPARAGUS SOUP WITH TIMBALE OF CAVIAR, CRAB AND AVOCADO

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add asparagus and stock; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer until asparagus is tender, about 8 minutes. Add spinach, cover and simmer until wilted, about 4 minutes. Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Transfer soup to large bowl; season to taste with salt and pepper. Cool, then cover and chill until cold, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
• Mix crabmeat, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and shallot in small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix avocado and remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice in another small bowl; mash coarsely. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Place tomato can or biscuit cutter in center of 1 soup bowl. Spoon in 1 tablespoon avocado mixture; smooth top. Spoon in 1 tablespoon crab mixture; press lightly to compact. Spoon in 1 tablespoon avocado mixture. Top with 1 teaspoon caviar. Carefully lift off can. Repeat in remaining soup bowls with remaining timbale ingredients. Ladle soup around each timbale. Serve immediately.

ELEGANT SPINACH TIMBALES

Steps:

• cook spinach according to package directions, drain.
• in a small mixer bowl beat eggs at medium speed until foamy (1 to 2 minutes).
• by hand stir in cooked spinach and remaining ingredients.
• divide mixture between 5 greased 6-oz custard cups. place custard cups on a rack in a 10inch skillet.
• add hot (not boiling) water to just below rack.
• cover, cook over medium heat for 18 to 22 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. if water begins to boil, reduce heat to low.
• meanwhile in a 1-qt saucepan melt 2 tablespoons butter.
• add flour, mustard, salt and pepper.
• cook over medium heat until smooth and bubbly (30sec).
• stir in milk, continue cooking, stirring occasionally until sauce comes to a full boil.
• stir in cheese until melted.
• loosen edges of timbales with knife, unmold, serve cheese sauce over timbales.