Cranberry Beans And Asparagus With Parma Ham Crisps Recipes

CRANBERRY BEANS WITH TOMATOES AND HERBS

Steps:

• Place olive oil in a 5-quart casserole with a tight-fitting lid. Cook, uncovered, at 100 percent power in a high-power oven for 2 minutes. Add onions and stir to coat with oil. Cook, uncovered, for 4 minutes.
• Drain beans and stir them in. Cook, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, sage and savory. Cook, covered, for 45 minutes, stirring twice.
• Remove from oven and uncover. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, covered, for 7 minutes to reheat.

FRESH CRANBERRY BEANS WITH TOMATOES, ONIONS AND CINNAMON

Steps:

• Cook the beans in a large saucepan of boiling water until tender, 30 to 40 minutes; drain.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onions and cook over low heat until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and simmer over moderate heat until the juices have evaporated, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, lemon juice, sugar, crushed red pepper and cinnamon and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Add the beans and water to the skillet and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat until the liquid has reduced to a glaze, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and transfer to a bowl. Serve warm or at room temperature, sprinkled with the parsley.

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.

PARMA WRAPPED ASPARAGUS WITH BLUE CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a pan to medium high heat.
• Wrap each asparagus with one piece of ham.
• Add a bit of oil to the pan and fry each asparagus until the ham is golden brown.
• You may have to do two batches, keep the first batch warm in the oven.
• Put the second batch in the oven and throw in the onions over medium high heat and cook them a couple minutes until golden.
• Deglaze the lot with about 1/4 - 1/2 cup good dry sherry scraping up all the goodness on the bottom then let it reduce.
• Add the cream, until very warm, then throw in the cheese until just melted.
• Salt and pepper it to taste and serve immediately drizzled over the asparagus and lettuce.

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.