Chargrilled Asparagus Spring Onions With Chive Flowers Recipes

CHARGRILLED ASPARAGUS & SPRING ONIONS WITH CHIVE FLOWERS

Steps:

• Heat a griddle pan over a very high heat and add the olive oil - place the asparagus spears & spring onions in the pan, being careful that the oil does not spit and burn you.
• Cook for 2 to 4 minutes on one side, depending on the thickness and then turn over and continue to cook for a further 2 to 4 minutes. You are aiming for charred, but not burnt!
• Just before the end add the Balsamic vinegar and a little more oil if needed.
• Serve straight away with chopped fresh chives and chive flowers sprinkled over the top, and a lemon wedge per serving.

GRILLED SPRING ONIONS WITH ROMESCO SAUCE

Steps:

• Slice 4 garlic cloves in half crosswise and put them in a small, microwave-safe dish. Cover with 1/4 cup olive oil. Loosely cover dish with plastic wrap, cut a slit in top and cook in microwave on medium power for 1 minute, 20 seconds. Uncover and let cool. Alternately, saute garlic in oil until golden around edges, about 3 minutes.
• Place tomato cut-side down on a plate. Microwave on medium power for 4 minutes. Let cool, then pull off tomato skin; it should come right off. If not, cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute. Alternatively, roast tomato halves in a 350-degree oven until wrinkled and tender, 20-30 minutes, then peel.
• Chop remaining 3 cloves garlic and put in a food processor along with nuts and biscotti. Grind to a powder, add sun-dried tomatoes and yolks, and process until tomatoes are ground. Add cooked tomato, cooked garlic with oil, plus vinegar, paprika, salt and cayenne, and process until smooth. Slowly drizzle in remaining 1/4 cup olive oil. Taste and adjust salt and vinegar if desired. If mixture is too thick, slowly drizzle in 1-3 tablespoons warm water. (You can make sauce up to 5 days ahead.).
• To prepare onions, preheat a grill or broiler. Brush onions with oil and place on a grilling rack or broiler pan. Grill or broil for about 5 minutes a side, until browned and softened. Serve with romesco sauce.

A FRENCH COUNTRY AFFAIR! ELEGANT OMELETTE GATEAU W/CHIVE FLOWERS

Steps:

• Take 2 bowls and add 5 eggs to each bowl - whisk lightly.
• In a large frying pan, add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil and fry the courgettes, spring onions, chives and chive flowers. Saute for about 8 to 10 minutes over a low to medium heat until the vegetables and herbs are soft but not coloured. Set aside and season with salt and pepper.
• In one bowl of whisked eggs, add the fried courgette mixture and in the other bowl of eggs, add the red peppers, garlic and chili - season well with salt and pepper.
• In an 8" omelette or pancake pan, heat up some of the remaining olive oil and using a third of the courgette omelette mixture, make an open face omelette; fry the omelette for about 5 minutes or until the omelette is firm. Carefully invert the omelette on to a plate - then slide it back in to the pan cooking the other side of the omelette for about 3 minutes or until firm. Make two more courgette omelettes this way and set them to one side to cool. Continue with the red pepper omelette mixture - making three more open face omelettes. You will now have three courgette omelettes and three red pepper omelettes. Allow them to cool before assembling your "Gateau".
• Whilst the omelettes are cooling, make the filling. Mix all of the filling ingredients together - check the seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Take an 8" cake tine, line it with some cling film, making sure that it overlaps the sides to about 6".
• Assemble the gateau - start of with the most attractive red pepper omelette, and place it in the cake tin - spread some filling over the top of the omelette. Continue with a courgette omelette and then a red pepper omelette - continue stacking the omelettes this way, spreading the filling in between them as you go. You will end up with a big multi-layered cake or sandwich of omelettes!
• Take the excess cling film and cover the gateau to cover it completely. Allow to rest in the fridge for 24 hours.
• When you are ready to serve it - carefully take the gateau out using the cling film to help you lift it out of the tin.
• Serve it on a pretty plate or cake stand, with the red pepper omelette facing the top.
• Sprinkle baby salad leaves and parmesan cheese shavings over the top and around the gateau. Chive flowers would also be an attractive garnish.
• To serve, cut in to wedges and serve with the salad leaves and parmesan shavings - with extra salad leaves and dressing if you wish.

GRILLED ASPARAGUS AND SPRING ONIONS WITH LEMON DRESSING

Steps:

• Prepare grill for medium-high. Whisk lemon zest, Meyer lemon zest, lemon juice, Meyer lemon juice, mustard, and 1/4 cup oil in a medium bowl to combine; season dressing with salt and pepper (if you don't have Meyer lemons, use regular lemons in their place).
• Place asparagus and spring onions on a rimmed baking sheet and lightly drizzle with oil. Season with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Grill, turning once, until lightly charred and crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Serve drizzled with dressing.

JULIA CHILD'S ASPARAGUS SIMMERED IN ONIONS, GARLIC, AND LEMON

Steps:

• Before peeling asparagus, start on the marinade. In a heavy saucepan, cook onions slowly in the olive oil with garlic, zest, herbs, and bay leaf. When tender (about 10 minutes), add peppercorns, wine, lemon juice, water, and salt. Cover and simmer slowly for about 20 minutes.
• Peel asparagus. Lay in a flameproof casserole dish and pour marinade over so asparagus is just covered with liquid (more water may be added if needed). Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer slowly for 20 minutes, or until asparagus is tender. Take out asparagus and arrange on serving platter. Boil down the cooking liquid until lightly syrupy and spoon over the asparagus. Sprinkle with parsley.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS, ONIONS AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F.
• Line a 10 x 15 inch rimmed baking sheet with foil.
• Place vegetables in pan and sprinkle with olive oil and toss until covered evenly.
• Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
• Roast 10 minutes, stir, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and roast an additional 10 to 15 minutes until vegetables are slightly charred and tender.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS, MUSHROOMS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425ºF.
• Line two 15 1/2x10 1/2-inch rimmed baking sheets with foil.
• Gently toss all ingredients in a large bowl until vegetables are coated with oil.
• Spread evenly on baking sheets.
• Roast 20 to 25 minutes stirring once until vegetables are slightly charred and tender.
• If preparing the asparagus and onion ahead, store them in a plastic bag large enough to accommodate the rest of the ingredients so you won't have to dirty a bowl.