Fennel Asparagus Seven Layer Salad Recipes

GRILLED FENNEL AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium-high.
• For the vinaigrette: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the garlic paste, lemon juice and zest, vinegar, salt, pepper and chili flakes. Gradually whisk in the olive oil. Cover and set aside.
• For the salad: Add the asparagus and fennel to the vinaigrette and toss to coat well. Brush the grill with some canola oil. Place the vegetables on the grill and cook until just caramelized and charred on all sides, about 4 minutes. Set aside to cool briefly.
• Heat a small saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and the pine nuts; toast until just golden brown, about 2 minutes. Set aside to cool in the pan.
• Slice the asparagus on the bias into 1-inch pieces. Core the fennel halves, then slice them 1/8- inch-thick. Add the asparagus and fennel back to the vinaigrette. Add the currants, olives, toasted pine nuts, arugula, salt and pepper. Toss well. Let sit for 5 minutes to allow the salad to absorb the vinaigrette. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with the shaved Pecorino.

FENNEL-ASPARAGUS SEVEN-LAYER SALAD

Steps:

• In large glass bowl, layer mesclun, fennel, radishes, onion, bacon and asparagus. In medium bowl, mix mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese. Spread mayonnaise mixture over asparagus, covering top completely and sealing to edge of bowl. Sprinkle with Gouda cheese.
• Cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours, but no longer than 12 hours, to blend flavors. Toss before serving, if desired.

SAUTEED ASPARAGUS FENNEL WITH GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• 1. Slice the asparagus spears diagonally into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Cut the fennel in half and remove the tough inner core. Separate the layers and then cut each layer into long thin strips.
• 2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fennel and onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the asparagus and garlic and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender yet firm, about 8 minutes. Stir in the thyme and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving dish and crumble the gorgonzola over top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

7-LAYER SALAD

Steps:

• Layer lettuce, cucumber, peas, Cheddar cheese, and egg, respectively, in a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
• Whisk creamy salad dressing, sugar, and vinegar together in a bowl until dressing is smooth; spread over the egg layer. Crumble bacon over dressing layer.

CITRUS-OIL-MARINATED SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Cook fava beans in a large pot of generously salted boiling water until pale green and tender and skins look swollen, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer beans to a large bowl of ice water. Let cool completely, about 2 minutes. Remove from ice bath with slotted spoon and peel outer layer from fava beans; set aside.
• Combine asparagus, edamame, and green beans in the same pot of boiling water and cook until bright green and slightly tender, about 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to ice bath and let sit until cold, about 10 minutes.
• Using a vegetable peeler, remove zest from lemons, leaving as much white pith behind as possible. Cut lemons in half and squeeze juice though your hand or fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl. Remove peel from orange with peeler; set fruit aside for another use (or eat!)
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium until shimmering, about 5 minutes, then remove from heat. Add garlic and let sizzle until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in lemon and orange zest, thyme sprigs, rosemary sprigs, salt, fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, and sugar. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Drain vegetables, discarding any remaining ice cubes, and add to infused room-temperature oil along with lemon juice; stir to combine. Transfer vegetables and oil to a 1½-qt. glass jar; cover and chill at least 4 hours before serving. Do ahead: Vegetables can be marinated up to 6 days ahead. Keep chilled.

ITALIAN VEGETABLE SALAD WITH CREAMY GARLIC DRESSING

Steps:

• Trim fennel (reserving fronds) and remove tough outer layer. Thinly slice fennel crosswise and cauliflower lengthwise (1/8 inch). Slice asparagus on a diagonal (1/8 inch). Combine vegetables in a large bowl.
• Purée yolks, garlic, anchovies, mustard, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a blender. With motor running, add oil in a slow stream, blending until dressing is thick and emulsified.
• Toss vegetables with enough dressing to coat. Season with salt. Sprinkle with fennel fronds.
• What to drink:
• Fontaleoni Vernaccia di San Gimignano '07

CHICKEN PAILLARD WITH ARUGULA, ASPARAGUS AND FENNEL SALAD WITH SHAVED PARM

Steps:

• Place chicken breasts on a gel board and halve horizontally but not all the way through, then open like a book and evenly pound to 1/8 inch thick. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Combine fennel pollen, granulated garlic, granulated onion and zest and use to season both sides of chicken.
• Pour 3 turns of the pan of EVOO into a large skillet.
• Fill a medium-sized mixing bowl with ice water. Use a vegetable peeler to thinly slice the asparagus lengthwise; place in ice water.
• Place the arugula in bowl. Drain asparagus. Top the greens with asparagus, fennel and red onion. Use a vegetable peeler to shave and curl the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and add to bowl. Add the celery stalks and leaves.
• Heat the EVOO in skillet over medium-high heat and have a transfer tray or platter on hand. Add 2 paillards at a time. Cook over medium-high heat for 6 to 7 minutes per batch, turning occasionally.
• Dress the salad with lemon juice and 2 to 3 tablespoons EVOO and season with salt. Serve the paillards on platters topped with a pile of the citrusy, peppery salad. Garnish with fennel fronds.