Polonaise Topping For Asparagus Recipes

SPARGEL - WHITE ASPARAGUS WITH EASY HOLLANDAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Warm the olive oil or butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the peeled and trimmed asparagus, lemon zest, and salt & pepper; stir to combine.
• Cover and cook until tender-crisp, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not over cook.
• Arrange on serving platter and squeeze with fresh lemon juice.
• Prepare the Hollandaise Sauce: Cut the butter into four pieces and place in a 1-quart glass measure or bowl. Microwave, covered with a paper towel, on high, until almost melted (about 45 seconds to 1 minute).
• Remove butter from the microwave and stir until completely melted.
• Separate eggs, placing the yolks in a small bowl and setting the whites aside for another purpose. Beat the yolks well with a whisk or fork, then add to the butter and stir well.
• Add cream, lemon juice, and sugar to egg mixture and stir well. Microwave mixture, uncovered, on high, until just slightly thick, about 1 to 2 minutes, stopping every 20 seconds to stir with a fork. Remove sauce from microwave and stir in the mustard.
• Pour warm sauce over the cooked white asparagus and serve at once. Garnish with fresh snipped parsley or fresh small edible flowers such as violets or Johnny jump-ups, if desired.
• NOTE: Sauce may be kept warm for up to 2 hours in an insulated container. Or cool the sauce to room temperature and refrigerate it in a covered microwave safe container for up to 24 hours. To re-warm, cover container with plastic wrap, pierce wrap with a knife to vent, and microwave on 50 percent power until heated through, about 2-3 minutes, stopping to stir halfway through. Do not allow sauce to boil.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH CRUNCHY PARMESAN TOPPING

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Combine the bread crumbs and Parmesan.
• Rinse asparagus and break off woody bottoms. Peel if thick. Lay stalks in a baking dish that will hold them in two or three layers. If the asparagus are thick, add a splash of water. Drizzle with the olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper; place in oven.
• Roast until the asparagus are tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Test for doneness by piercing a spear with point of a sharp knife; it should slide in but meet a little resistance. (Up to this point, the recipe can be made as much as two hours before serving; just leave asparagus at room temperature.).
• Turn on broiler and place rack as close as possible to heating element. Top asparagus with cheese-crumb mixture and run under broiler to brown for 1-2 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

ASPARAGUS SAUCE

Steps:

• Soften the onion and garlic, and blend it with the cooked asparagus, salt and pepper and a little mace, then gradually stir in enough single or double cream until the mixture has a sauce like consistency.
• This sauce can then be heated and served with pasta, salmon, or chicken.

POLONAISE TOPPING FOR ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat the butter over moderately high heat until the foam subsides and in it sauté the bread crumbs until they are golden brown. Stir in the egg, the parsley, and salt and pepper to taste and serve the topping over asparagus.