Savory Italian Asparagus Recipes

ROASTED ITALIAN ASPARAGUS WITH PARMESAN

Steps:

• Mix garlic powder into dressing.
• Toss dressing with asparagus.
• Roast asparagus in 400 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Sprinkle with parmesean and place under broiler for about 3 minutes.

BAKED ASPARAGUS ITALIAN STYLE (ASPARAGI AL FORNO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
• Clean the asparagus and trim off the woody ends if necessary.
• Place asparagus in a steamer (or in a pan of lightly salted water) and steam/cook for 8 minutes.
• Be sure not to over cook and make asparagus limpy.
• Place asparagus in a buttered, oven tolerant dish or pan.
• Season with pinch of salt and black pepper.
• Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the top and sprinkle with Parmigiano Reggiano.
• Bake in preheated oven for about 6-7 minutes until golden brown.
• Enjoy-- mmmmmmm.

ITALIAN STYLE ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Pour melted butter into a 9x13 pan.
• Line with asparagus, alternating tips.
• Sprinkle with onion, celery, cheese bread crumbs and tomatoes.
• Season with thyme, oregano, basil and salt and pepper.
• Cover and bake for 45 minutes or until tender.

SOLE WITH SAVORY BREAD CRUMB TOPPING AND ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Trim the asparagus spears, then place them in a baking dish. Toss with 2 teaspoons of the oil and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Roast until they are crisp-tender, 10 to 15 minutes depending on the thickness of the spears.
• Meanwhile, place the garlic in a food processor and pulse until chopped. Cut off and discard the crusts from the bread, then add the bread to the processor and pulse until fine crumbs are formed.
• Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons oil and the butter together in a medium skillet over medium heat. While the oil is heating, finely zest the lemon until you get about 1 teaspoon of zest.
• Add the garlic and bread crumbs to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant and the crumbs are toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon zest, oregano, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Arrange the fish fillets on an aluminum foil- or parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Squeeze the juice of half of the lemon over the fish, then press the bread crumb mixture on top. Bake until the fish is just opaque and flakes easily with a fork, about 8 minutes. While the fish is cooking, chop the parsley.
• To serve, arrange the fish on serving plates with the asparagus alongside. Sprinkle with the juice from the remaining lemon half and the parsley before serving.

ITALIAN ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Snap off tough ends of asparagus.
• Remove scales from stalks with a knife or veggie peeler, if desired.
• Arrange asparagus in a veggie steamer over boiling water.
• Cover and steam 4 to 5 minutes or until crisp tender, keep warm.
• Combine tomato and next 4 ingredients in a small bowl, stir well.
• To serve, spoon tomato mixture over asparagus, sprinkle with cheese.

ASPARAGUS FLAN WITH CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Make flan:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325°F. Butter an 8- by 2-inch round cake pan and line bottom with a round of wax paper, then butter paper. 3Steam asparagus in a steamer set over boiling water, covered, until very tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Purée asparagus in a food processor until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. (You will have about 2 cups purée.)
• Whisk together eggs, milk, cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a bowl, then whisk in asparagus purée.
• Pour asparagus mixture into pan and bake in a hot water bath until flan is set and a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
• Transfer pan to a rack to cool slightly, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Make sauce while flan cools:
• Put all sauce ingredients in a metal bowl, then set bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Heat sauce, whisking until cheese and butter are melted, and then stirring with a wooden spoon, until sauce is slightly thickened and registers 165°F on an instant-read thermometer, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove bowl from pan.
• Run a thin knife around edge of flan to loosen, then invert a serving plate over pan and invert flan onto plate. Remove pan and discard paper. Cut flan into wedges and serve immediately with sauce.