Savory Asparagus Recipes

SAVORY ITALIAN ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Snap off tough ends of asparagus. Remove scales with a knife or vegetable peeler, if desired. Cover and cook in small amount of boiling water 4 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain; arrange on serving platter and keep warm.
• Combine tomato and next 4 ingredients in a small bowl; stir well. Spoon tomato mixture over asparagus; sprinkle with cheese. Serve.

SAUTEED ASPARAGUS WITH OLIVES AND BASIL

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the asparagus, 1/4 teaspoon salt and some pepper and cook, stirring, until the asparagus is bright green and crisp-tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the olives, basil and 1/4 teaspoon salt and toss well. Serve.

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.

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.