Tarragon Asparagus Salad Recipes

WHITE BEAN AND ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH TARRAGON-LEMON DRESSING

Steps:

• If using canned beans, drain and rinse. If using dried beans, soak in plenty of water for 6 hours or overnight. Drain beans and transfer to a medium pot. Cover beans by 2 inches with water and add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the bay leaves. Simmer until just tender but not at all mushy, about 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours, depending upon what kind of beans you're using. Drain.
• Break off tough ends of the asparagus. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil and prepare a bowl with ice and cold water. Blanch trimmed asparagus for 1 1/2 minutes, or until just cooked through but still firm, then plunge them into the ice bath. Let sit for 5 minutes, then drain. Pat dry and slice diagonally into 1/2-inch pieces.
• In a blender or food processor, combine tarragon, lemon zest, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, the black pepper and the lemon juice, and process until garlic is chopped. Pour in olive oil. Process until mixture is well blended and bright green, about 1 minute.
• In a large mixing bowl, gently toss together beans, asparagus and dressing. Taste and add more lemon juice and salt if needed.

CITRUS-TARRAGON ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Place peppers on a foil-lined baking sheet. Broil 4 in. from heat until skins blister, about 5 minutes. With tongs, rotate peppers a quarter turn. Broil and rotate until all sides are blistered and blackened. Immediately place peppers in a large bowl; let stand, covered, 20 minutes., Meanwhile, in a 6-qt. stockpot, bring 8 cups water to a boil. Add asparagus in batches; cook, uncovered, just until crisp-tender, 1-2 minutes. Remove asparagus and immediately drop into ice water. Drain and pat dry; cut into halves., Peel off and discard charred skin on peppers. Remove stems and seeds. Cut peppers into 1/4-in.-wide strips. In a large bowl, combine asparagus, red peppers and shallots. For dressing, in a small bowl, whisk vinegar, orange zest, tarragon, honey, salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in oil until blended. Drizzle over asparagus mixture; toss to coat. Refrigerate up to 4 hours before serving, stirring occasionally.

BROILED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON TARRAGON DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack at about 6 inches from the heat source.
• Toss the asparagus with 4 teaspoons olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread out onto the prepared baking sheet, and broil in the preheated oven until the asparagus spears are just tender and begin to turn lightly brown, about 8 minutes. Turn the spears over halfway through cooking.
• While the spears are cooking, prepare the dressing by whisking together the lemon juice, shallot, tarragon, mustard, and olive oil in a small bowl; season to taste with salt and pepper. Once the asparagus is done, place it onto a serving platter and pour the dressing overtop.

TARRAGON ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Place the first 7 ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well. Refrigerate at least 1 hour., In a large skillet, bring 1/2 in. of water to a boil. Add asparagus; cook, covered, until crisp-tender, 1-3 minutes. Remove asparagus and immediately drop into ice water. Drain and pat dry. Refrigerate, covered, until serving., To serve, shake dressing again. Spoon over asparagus.

ORANGE-TARRAGON DUCK BREAST WITH GREEN SALAD AND ASPARAGUS-ALMOND RICE

Steps:

• Rub a skillet with 1 tablespoon butter. Lightly score duck breaks through skin, but not the flesh, in a cross-hatch pattern. Season duck breasts with salt and pepper and place in cold pan skin side down and turn heat on to medium-medium high. Cook until crispy, 15 minutes, turn. Drain off some of the fat and discard. Mix marmalade with 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar and tarragon, salt and pepper, reserve. Once you flip the duck, pour the marmalade sauce over top and reduce heat. Loosely cover pan and let the duck hang out a couple of minutes more.
• While duck cooks, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium pot and toast nuts 2 minutes, add rice and toast 1 minute more. Add stock and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat 15 minutes. Trim off the top 4 inches of asparagus and thinly slice on the bias. Add to rice and cook rice 2 to 3 minutes more for a total of 17 to 18 minutes.
• While rice cooks, combine endive, cress and frisee in a salad bowl. Combine shallots and Dijon with 2 tablespoons vinegar, salt and pepper. Whisk in 1/4 to 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil and pour over salad. Garnish with oranges.
• Serve duck breast on salad with asparagus-almond rice alongside.

ASPARAGUS WITH TARRAGON SHERRY VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Steam asparagus on a steamer rack set over boiling water, covered, until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes (depending on thickness), then transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking. Drain well and pat dry with paper towels.
• Whisk together vinegar, shallot, mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and add oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified. Whisk in tarragon.
• Halve egg and force each half through a coarse sieve into a bowl. Toss asparagus with 1 tablespoon vinaigrette and divide among 4 plates. Spoon remaining dressing over asparagus and top with egg.