Asparagus With Salsa Verde And Scarlet Onions Recipes

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.

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.

SAUTEED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat the butter and oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook until they begin to soften, about 1 minute. Add the asparagus and season with 1 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Cook the asparagus, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but still bright green, about 4 minutes. Transfer the asparagus to a platter and garnish with lemon zest.

ASPARAGUS GREEN ONION SAUTé

Steps:

• Bring a 5- to 6-quart pot of water seasoned with 1 tablespoon kosher salt to a boil. Cook asparagus and string beans until just tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain, then transfer in a single layer to paper or kitchen towels to dry.
• Separate white parts from green parts of scallions. Halve whites lengthwise. Halve green parts lengthwise and again in half crosswise. You should have approximately 3-inch pieces.
• Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat until oil shimmers. Add white parts of scallions and sauté until they just begin to wilt and turn golden, about 2 minutes.
• Add asparagus, green beans, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and sauté to heat through, 1 minute. Add green parts of scallions and continue to sauté until they just begin to wilt, about 1 minute more. Adjust seasoning if necessary and serve with a fresh grind of black pepper.

MY FAVORITE ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Set up a grill for even medium-high heat. If using a charcoal grill, build coals evenly along the bottom.
• Whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, mustard, horseradish, lemon juice and zest in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. Place the asparagus, endive and onions on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Place on the grill and cook, turning once, until tender-crisp and lightly charred, 4 to 5 minutes. Serve drizzled with the dressing and topped with the tarragon leaves, if using.

DEBORAH MADISON'S FRAGRANT ONION TART

Steps:

• To make the filling, cut onions in half, peel them, and if they are strong, put them in a bowl of cold water. It doesn't take long for that to reduce their sting. Finely dice them.
• If you're using bacon, fry until browned and nearly crisp, then scoop out and drain on a paper towel. Throw out bacon grease, wipe out pan and add 2 tablespoons butter. When melted, add onions, thyme and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. The onions needn't be caramelized, but should just take on a faint golden hue. When done, let them cool slightly. Taste for salt (they'll be very sweet, you might want to add more) and season well with pepper.
• While onions cook, whisk eggs with crème fraîche and milk. Stir in cooled onions, cheese and bacon, if using.
• To make the crust, put flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add 6 tablespoons butter and turn mixer to low speed until butter has broken into small, pebble-size pieces. Drizzle in ice water until dough looks clumpy and damp. (You'll use about 3 tablespoons, fewer if butter was soft.) Form dough into a disk or a rectangle to correspond to the shape pan you're using. You have a few choices: a 9-inch tart pan, a square tart pan or a rectangular one (11 by 81/2 inches), all with removable bottoms. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Roll dough to fit tart pan, then drape dough in pan. Neatly press dough into pan and shape it. Set it on a sheet pan. Pour onion mixture into tart pan, and bake until surface is golden and browned in places, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool to warm before cutting into slices and serving.