Savory Asparagus Recipes

SAVORY ASPARAGUS STRATA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add asparagus, mushrooms, garlic salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; cook and stir 3-4 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender., Place half of the bread cubes in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with asparagus mixture, goat cheese and remaining bread., In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, thyme, salt and remaining pepper. Pour over top; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Refrigerate, covered, overnight., Preheat oven to 350°. Remove strata from refrigerator while oven heats. Bake, uncovered, 50-60 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving. Meanwhile, prepare sauce mix according to package directions. Serve with strata.

SAVORY ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, bring 1/2 in. of water to a boil. Add asparagus; cover and cook for 3-4 minutes or until crisp-tender. , Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the oil, tarragon, onion powder and pepper until blended. Drain asparagus; drizzle with oil mixture and toss to coat.

SAVORY ASPARAGUS BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan or casserole with nonstick cooking spray.
• Using a serrated knife, cut the bread into 3/4-inch cubes and put all of the cubes in a large bowl.
• In medium bowl, whish together the milk, broth, eggs, salt, pepper, and dill until combined. Pour the mixture over the bread.
• Snap off the tough ends of the asparagus and cut the spears into 1-inch pieces. Add them to the bread along with the mushrooms and shallots.
• Fold everything together well to combine the ingredients. Spoon them into the prepared pan and pat down the top to compact the ingredients. Sprinkle the cheese evenly ever the top.
• Bake the pudding for 45 minutes, or until the top is browned and crisp and there is no liquid in the center. Let sit for 10 minutes before cutting into portions.

SAVORY ASPARAGUS SPRING ROLLS

Steps:

• Bring a medium pan of water to a boil. Blanch the asparagus until crisp-tender, 1 to 3 minutes depending on the thickness of the asparagus. Plunge the asparagus into ice water to stop the cooking. Drain and pat dry. Cut each asparagus in half so that you have 2 pieces about 3 inches each.
• For the stalk halves of the asparagus: Place a spring roll wrapper on a flat surface with the corner pointed toward you. Lightly brush the center of the wrapper with oyster sauce. Lay a piece of the stalk-half of asparagus across the wrapper from corner to corner. Fold in the side corners of the wrapper toward the middle, fold up the bottom corner and then roll up. Seal the top of the wrapper by brushing some of the cornstarch mixture along the edges of the wrapper to help seal. Put the rolls onto a plate seam-side down while making the remaining rolls.
• For the spear end of the asparagus: Place a spring roll wrapper on a flat surface with square to you. Lightly brush the middle of the wrapper with oyster sauce. Lay a piece of asparagus with the tip overhanging the edge away from you. Fold up the bottom toward the center. Fold in one side of the wrapper toward the middle and then roll up. Use cornstarch mixture along the edge of the wrapper as a paste to help seal. Put onto a plate seam-side down while preparing the remaining rolls.
• Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat and add some of the vegetable oil. Add the rolls a few at a time and shallow fry, turning as they become golden brown; do not fry too many at one time and overcrowd the skillet. Once golden, remove from the skillet and drain on paper towels.
• On a small plate, mix together the black and white sesame seeds. Brush the cooked rolls with a little honey, and then roll them in the sesame seeds and serve.

ASPARAGUS GRATIN

Steps:

• Place an oven rack on one of the top two shelves, then preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 3 or 4-quart casserole dish with cooking spray, butter or olive oil.
• Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Cook the asparagus, in batches if necessary, until crisp-tender, 3-4 minutes depending on the thickness of the asparagus. Drain through a colander, shaking off any excess water, then transfer to the baking dish. Toss with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• In the same pot, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring, until the mixture develops a nutty fragrance and darkens slightly, 2-3 minutes (this is known as a roux). Whisk in the half-and-half, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, then increase the heat to medium-high. Whisk until thick, 4-5 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat, then add the cheese in handfuls, whisking until smooth. Pour the sauce evenly over asparagus.
• Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small skillet, then stir in the panko and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Sprinkle over the cheese sauce.
• Bake for 10 minutes, then turn on the broiler. Broil for 1-2 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are golden brown (watch closely to make sure they don't burn).
• Serve warm.

SAVORY ASPARAGUS CROISSANTS

Steps:

• Spray a 9x13" baking dish with non-stick spray.
• Put croissant bottoms in baking dish.
• Sprinkle with 3/4 cup Swiss cheese.
• Top each croissant with 4 asparagus spears.
• Sprinkle with garlic salt, pepper and a little dill.
• Sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup Swiss cheese.
• In bowl, combine eggs, half and half, cayenne, mustard, nutmeg and salt; beat well.
• Dip croissant tops in egg mixture and place on top of croissants in baking dish.
• Pour remaining egg mixture over croissants.
• Top each croissant with a few white and black sesame seeds (if using).
• At this point the dish can be covered and refrigerated overnight).
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bake croissants for 15 minutes, or until egg mixture is set (if croissant brown too quickly, loosely cover dish with foil).
• Carefully cut around croissants and lift onto warmed serving plates.

EGGS AND SAVORY FRENCH TOAST WITH CHEESE AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 1-quart baking dish with 1 teaspoon butter.
• Arrange bread slices in a single layer in the baking dish.
• Whisk milk, 1 egg, nutmeg, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Pour over bread slices. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Let stand until milk mixture is absorbed, 15 to 30 minutes. Dot remaining 2 teaspoons butter over Parmesan cheese.
• Toss asparagus with olive oil in a bowl. Spread on a baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper.
• Bake bread slices in the preheated oven until puffed up, about 10 minutes. Place asparagus in the oven. Continue baking bread slices until golden brown, about 10 minutes more.
• Fill a large saucepan with 2 to 3 inches of water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low to bring water to a gentle simmer.
• Crack 1 egg into a small bowl then gently slip egg into the simmering water, holding the bowl just above the surface of water. Repeat with the remaining egg. Cook eggs until the whites are firm and the yolks have thickened but still runny, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. Remove the eggs from the water with a slotted spoon.
• Divide bread between 2 plates. Top each portion with a poached egg. Season with salt and pepper. Serve asparagus on the side.