Asparagus Milanese Recipes

ASPARAGUS MILANESE

Steps:

• Snap off the tough ends of the asparagus; cook in boiling salted water until just crisp-tender, approximately 4 to 5 minutes for thick stalks. Remove from heat and remove asparagus with a slotted spoon; drain on several thicknesses of paper toweling until ready to serve. Remember that the asparagus will continue to cook from their own heat as they stand and cool, so if you like very firm asparagus, time them accordingly. Divide cooked asparagus among 4 individual serving plates. Sprinkle with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
• In a medium-size frying pan over medium heat, heat the butter until just hot enough to sizzle a drop of water. Break and slip eggs into the pan; reduce heat to low and cook approximately 2 to 3 minutes or until whites are set but yolks are still runny. With a spatula, remove the eggs to the plates you will serve them on and place on top of the asparagus (be careful not to break the yolks). The eggs should be hot enough to slightly melt the grated parmesan cheese
• If the butter hasn't already begun to brown, increase the heat under the frying pan and cook butter until lightly browned. Pour the browned butter over the top of the eggs. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Serve immediately.

PRAWN, ASPARAGUS AND SAFFRON RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add in the rice and toast, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Add the shallots, garlic, and saffron and saute everything together for 1 more minute. Add the wine and without stirring, turn down the heat to medium-low and shake the pot every few minutes. Once the wine has been reduced, add the stock 2/3 of a ladle at a time until liquid covers the rice completely. Add few pieces of prawns and asparagus to get the flavor through during the cooking process for 12 to 15 minutes. Add the rest of the prawns and asparagus the last 2 minutes if cooking. When the rice is still al dente, remove from heat. Add in the butter and parsley, and season, to taste, with sea salt. Stir everything in together and serve.

PARMESAN ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• If the stalks of the asparagus are thick, peel the bottom 1/2 of each. Lay them in a single layer on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and return to the oven for another minute. Serve with lemon wedges.

PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, cook the garlic, red pepper flakes and hot pepper sauce in oil and butter for 1 minute. Add the asparagus, salt and pepper; saute until asparagus is crisp-tender, 8-10 minutes. Stir in cheese. Pour over hot pasta and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

FETTUCCINE WITH MUSHROOMS AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• 1. Bring 6 quarts water to a boil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over high heat, then add 2 tablespoons salt.
• 2. While waiting for the water to boil, heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion and pepper flakes and sauté quickly to keep the ingredients from scorching. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until the mushrooms darken slightly in color and are softened but still holding their shape, about 5 minutes. Add the broth and asparagus and cook, stirring gently, for 2 minutes. Stir in the cream, immediately reduce the heat to keep it from scorching, and cook for several minutes.
• 3. Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts in a sauté pan over low heat, shaking the pan, just until they are warm and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• 4. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente, 7 to 9 minutes from the time the water returns to a boil (10 minutes if you are using pappardelle).
• 5. Add the basil, butter, pine nuts, and cheese to the pan with the mushrooms and toss well.
• 6. Reserve a cup or so of the pasta's cooking liquid, then drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the mushrooms, asparagus, and sauce. If the sauce seems too dry, stir in a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. Toss, taste, and adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper, and more pepper flakes if necessary.
• 7. Present the pasta in a bowl and serve family style from the center of the table, or divide among individual plates.
• Your Nightly Specials
• Mushrooms: Instead of using the cremini, use 1 cup dried porcini mushrooms.
• Dried Mushrooms: Dried mushrooms like porcini, morel, and chanterelle offer a quick way to add flavor to cooking and are especially useful in the off season or winter months. Always rinse dried mushrooms under cold running water to remove any lingering dirt and sand, then reconstitute them in hot water for 20 minutes, drain, and strain the liquid. Save the liquid for soups and sauces. Keeping a small packet of dried mushrooms, which costs just a few dollars, in your pantry will five earthy flavor on demand.
• Use a spice grinder to grind dried porcini to a powder. This seasoning powder will very economically make a full pot of risotto taste like a much more costly version, something many restaurants do to make flavors pop. Add 1 tablespoon to the finished mushrooms for a powerful and full flavor at an economical price.
• Porcini Mushrooms: Fresh porcini are among the most delicious of mushrooms. When they are available each fall, by all means use them, although they are expensive and need to be cooked as quickly as possible because they are highly perishable.
• Add 1/2 cup of blanched and shocked fresh or frozen peas, spincach, and/or broccoli buds.
• Toss some shredded, leftover roasted turkey or duck meat into the pan along with the cooked pasta.