Asparagus Bocconcini Recipes

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS AND CHERRY TOMATOES (SPRING)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
• In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the asparagus, season with the salt and pepper, and cook for 3 minutes until slightly soft. Add the cherry tomatoes and peas. Cook for 2 minutes. Pour the chicken stock into the pan and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook until the tomatoes start to burst and the stock is reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer the asparagus mixture to a large serving bowl. Add the cooked pasta and 1/2 of the Parmesan. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Garnish with the remaining Parmesan and chopped basil.

ASPARAGUS BOCCONCINI

Steps:

• Spray the asparagus lightly with an olive oil spray and stick the in the oven at 400°F/190°C with a few thinly sliced garlic cloves for about 5 minutes.
• To assemble: place asparagus on a plate, scatter bocconcini and olives on top and sprinkle combined oil and vinegar dressing over.
• If you like you may add a few leaves of roughly chopped fresh basil leaves as an added garnish.
• Serve either at room temp or refrigerate till serving time.

DEEP-FRIED BOCCONCINI WITH SPICY TOMATO AND GARLIC CHUTNEY

Steps:

• For the bocconcini: Drain the bocconcini and pat dry with paper towels. Put on a paper towel-lined plate and allow to dry in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Put the flour in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Put the eggs in a second medium bowl and the bread crumbs in a third medium bowl. Coat the bocconcini in flour and then dip into the eggs. Roll the bocconcini in the bread crumbs until coated. Dip the coated bocconcini, again, in the eggs and then coat with bread crumbs. Freeze the breaded bocconcini for 20 minutes.
• For the chutney: In a blender, combine the garlic, ginger, 1/4 teaspoon salt, vinegar, sugar, olive oil, cumin and pepper. Blend until smooth. Pour into a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan and add the tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the mixture is thick, about 45 to 55 minutes. Using the back of a wooden spoon, gently break up the tomatoes as they begin to soften during cooking. Season with salt, to taste. Let the chutney cool to room temperature, about 35 minutes. Place in a serving bowl.
• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour in enough oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 375 degrees F. (If you don't have a thermometer a cube of bread will brown in about 1 to 2 minutes.) In batches, fry the bocconcini until golden brown, about 15 to 20 seconds. Drain on paper towels.
• Arrange the bocconcini on a platter and serve the chutney alongside as an accompaniment.

SKILLET-BAKED EGGS AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 300 degrees. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Add the asparagus and the scallions and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until asparagus is browned and tender.
• Whisk together the eggs, 4 tablespoons of the herbs, and cream. Whisk in Parmesan, salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture over asparagus and place the skillet in the oven.
• Bake for about 20 minutes, until set, but still slightly jiggly in the center. Cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before serving. It is best warm, not hot.
• Squeeze one or two lemon wedges over it, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt and remaining herbs. Cut into wedges.

ASPARAGUS AND BOCCONCINI RISOTTO BAKE (SLICE)

Steps:

• Melt the butter and oil in a large pan. Add the sliced leek and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the leek is tender. Add the rice and continue to stir for one minute.
• Add the liquid stock, the water and cream. Mix to combine.
• Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in asparagus, spinach leaves, parmesan and parsley. Remove from the heat and stir in the eggs.
• Spoon in 1/2 of the rice mixture into a greased 12 cup ovenproof dish. Arrange the bocconcini over the rice. Top with the remaining mixture. Sprinkle over the tasty cheese. I use a lasagne dish to make this recipe.
• Cook uncovered 180 degrees celcius for 25 minutes or until the rice is tender.
• Stand at least 10 minutes before serving. The slice cuts better the longer that it is left.