Asparagus And Watercress Pizza Recipes

ASPARAGUS PIZZA

Steps:

• Trim 1/2 pound asparagus. Cut each stalk in half lengthwise, then crosswise into 2-inch pieces. Form 1 pound refrigerated pizza dough (at room temperature) into an 11-by-15-inch rectangle on an oiled piece of parchment. Top with the asparagus and 1 cup shredded fontina. Slide the crust (on the parchment) onto a preheated pizza stone or inverted baking sheet. Bake at 475˚ until the bottom is crisp, 12 minutes. Top with pesto and red pepper flakes.

ASPARAGUS SOUP WITH SUMAC AND WATERCRESS

Steps:

• For the soup base: Melt the butter in a soup pot over medium heat. When the butter is bubbling and frothy, add the shallot and the celery and cook for 2 minutes. Add the diced potato, thyme, bay leaf, and stock. Turn the heat to high, bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes until potatoes are tender.
• Finish the soup: While the soup base simmers, snap the woody ends off the asparagus, about 2 inches from the root end. Discard those ends and cut the remaining spears into 1-inch long pieces. Add the cut asparagus to the pot, cover, and cook for 4 more minutes. Add the watercress, tahini, cream, salt, and sumac. Remove (and discard) the bay leaf and thyme sprigs and remove from heat. Carefully pour the soup into a blender and puree until smooth. Ladle into soup bowls.
• Garnish the soup: Garnish the soup with feta, potato chips, scallions, aleppo pepper, olive oil, and serve.

ASPARAGUS AND WATERCRESS PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees with rack in lower third. Toss together asparagus, onion, and 1 tablespoon oil in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• Brush a rimmed baking sheet with 2 tablespoons oil. Using your hands, gently stretch dough from all sides to approximate size of baking sheet. Place dough on baking sheet, stretching and fitting it to edges of sheet.
• Brush dough with remaining 2 tablespoons oil, then spread with ricotta, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top with asparagus mixture; sprinkle with mozzarella.
• Bake until crust is golden brown and asparagus is tender, about 20 minutes. Top with watercress, season with salt, and sprinkle with pepper flakes. Cut into pieces and serve.

ARTICHOKES, ASPARAGUS, AND WATERCRESS SALAD WITH CUMIN VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• To prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, combine the vinegar mustard, cumin, and sugar; season with salt and pepper. Whisk to blend. While whisking, slowly drizzle in the olive oil, mixing until the vinaigrette is emulsified. Set aside.
• To prepare the salad: Fill a medium bowl with 2 cups of ice cubes and cover with cold water. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus and blanch until tender but not mushy, about 3 minutes. Drain the asparagus in a colander and transfer to the ice water bath to stop the cooking. Drain again and place on a paper towel-lined plate to dry. Cut the asparagus stalks into thirds.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the blanched asparagus, parsley, artichokes, tomatoes, and watercress. Whisk the vinaigrette to combine and pour over the salad. Toss to coat and serve.

ASPARAGUS POTATO AND WATERCRESS SOUP

Steps:

• Over medium heat, sweat the shallots and garlic in butter in a pot.
• Once the shallots are translucent add the potato, asparagus and tarragon.
• After a minute, add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
• Once the asparagus and potatoes are cooked through (timing will depend on size of pieces), puree in a blender and pass through a fine strainer.
• Place back in pot and bring to a boil.
• Since watercress is a little bitter, I suggest you add it gradually- puree& taste.
• Repeat until it suits you.
• Add the cream and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Garnish with chervil.

WATERCRESS, ASPARAGUS AND PECORINO SALAD

Steps:

• Place the raisins in a dish, barely cover with warm water, add the lemon juice and set aside for 15 minutes.
• Snap the ends off the asparagus, then cut the spears on the bias in one-inch lengths. Place them in a steamer or a sieve and steam over boiling water about two minutes, just until they turn bright green. Rinse under cold water, drain them well and set aside.
• Pick the leaves off the stems of the watercress and then discard the stems.
• Arrange the watercress leaves on each of four plates. Scatter the steamed asparagus over the watercress. Drain the raisins and scatter them on, then drizzle with the olive oil. Top each serving with shavings of cheese, season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

ASPARAGUS AND PROSCIUTTO PIZZA

Steps:

• Place a pizza stone in the oven at 550 degrees F (260 degrees C); preheat for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add spinach, cover, and steam until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and remove liquid.
• Place asparagus in a single layer in a flat, microwave-safe dish. Add 2 tablespoons water, cover, and microwave until tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface. Brush with oil. Sprinkle 1/2 of the Parmesan cheese over top. Add prosciutto, onion, asparagus, spinach, and remaining Parmesan.
• Remove pizza stone from the oven. Transfer pizza to the hot stone and return to the oven. Bake until crispy, about 10 minutes.

ASPARAGUS AND WATERCRESS, STIR-FRIED

Steps:

• Snap off the ends of the asparagus where they break naturally, then cut them into slices one-half inch thick sharply at an angle.
• Rinse and drain the watercress and trim off any heavy stems. Separate the watercress into branches.
• Shortly before serving time, heat the oil in a wok or large skillet. Add the asparagus and stir-fry them two to three minutes until they begin to lose their rawness and turn bright green. Sprinkle them with sugar.
• Add the watercress and stir-fry until the watercress wilts. Season with salt. Transfer to a serving dish and serve hot or at room temperature.

BLUE CHEESE AND ASPARAGUS PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place asparagus on a baking sheet; drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Bake the asparagus in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
• While asparagus is baking, spread the pizza sauce over the pizza crust. Distribute asparagus pieces and crumbles of blue cheese evenly over the pizza.
• Return pizza to center rack of preheated oven; bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling, 8 to 10 more minutes.

PIZZA WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast and sugar in water and set aside to proof for about five minutes. Pour yeast mixture into a bowl, add salt, olive oil, pepper and two cups of flour. Mix well. Add some of the remaining flour, in two or three portions, until the dough begins to leave the sides of the bowl. You should have some flour left.
• Dust a work surface with some of the remaining flour and turn the dough out onto it. Knead until it is very smooth and elastic, kneading in additional flour as necessary.
• Place the dough in a large lightly oiled bowl. Turn the dough to oil the top, cover loosely and allow to rise until doubled, about 1 hour at room temperature. Punch the dough down.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees and place oven rack in the lowest position. Dust a lightly oiled baking sheet or pizza stone with cornmeal.
• Divide the dough into four portions and roll or stretch each to form an eight-inch circle, leaving a thicker border.
• Snap off the bottom ends of the asparagus and peel the bottom half of each. Slice each asparagus in half lengthwise, then cut each piece in half.
• Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the circles of dough, then arrange the asparagus pieces, cut side down, in a pattern on each. Sprinkle with Fontina and Gorgonzola.
• Bake pizzas about 15 minutes, until the crust is lightly browned and the cheese is bubbling. Serve at once.