Asparagus Provencal Recipes

ASPARAGUS PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Steam asparagus until tender crisp, drain and pat dry.
• In a large skillet, heat olive oil.
• Add the asparagus, tomatoes, garlic and salt and pepper.
• When vegetables are lightly browned, sprinkle them with lemon juice and serve hot as a side dish or cold as a salad.

PROVENCAL ASPARAGUS WITH TOMATO (FRENCH)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut a small "x" in the bottom of the tomato. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the tomato and cook it for 30 seconds. Remove it to a bowl of salted iced water. Add the asparagus in the boiling water and blanch for 1 minute. Remove the asparagus to the iced water bath to cool down, then drain both the tomato and the asparagus. Peel the tomato, remove the seeds, and roughly chop it. Cut the asparagus into 1-inch pieces and set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the tomato, garlic, herbs, and lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook until the tomato begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the asparagus and cook until is just tender, about 2 to 3 minutes. Spoon the mixture into an ovenproof casserole and scatter with some Parmesan shavings. Bake until the cheese is melted and lightly browned, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve.

ASPARAGUS, ARTICHOKE, AND MUSHROOM SAUTE WITH TARRAGON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the Vegetable Saute: Warm the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallot and the garlic and cook until tender, about 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms and asparagus to the pan and cook until tender. Add the artichoke hearts and season with salt and pepper, then cook until the artichoke hearts are heated through. Remove the skillet from the heat, then add in the tomatoes and stir to warm them up.
• For the Tarragon Vinaigrette: Combine the oil, vinegar, tarragon, salt and pepper in a glass screw-top jar. Seal the jar and shake vigorously to mix the vinaigrette.
• Toss the vegetables with the vinaigrette and serve.

ASPARAGUS PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Preheat an Omelette Pan on medium heat until the rim of the pan is hot-to-the-touch.
• Add the olive oil and heat for another minute.
• Add the garlic, shallots, tomatoes and asparagus.
• Cook for 3-4 minutes and remove from the heat.
• Remove to a serving platter, garnish with the chiffonade of basil, and season with salt and pepper.

SEARED HALIBUT WITH PARMIGIANA ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• For halibut: Preheat a 12-inch saute pan over medium-high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil and butter. Season halibut with salt and pepper and dust with the flour, shaking off the excess. As your butter starts to brown, gently lay each steak in your pan. Allow to cook until golden brown on both sides and cooked through, approximately 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
• For asparagus: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Trim and clean your asparagus. In a large bowl add cleaned asparagus, minced garlic, minced shallots, and extra-virgin olive oil. Season, to taste. Lay prepared asparagus on a half sheet pan and roast until tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Right before taking your roasted asparagus out of the oven liberally top with freshly grated parmesan cheese. The heat of your pan should melt your cheese.
• To serve, place 4 pieces of asparagus on a plate, top with golden brown halibut steak. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Garnish with a sprig of chervil or chives

POT ROAST PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Dust meat with flour.
• Brown meat in olive oil on high heat.
• Set aside meat and turn down to medium heat.
• Add potatoes, carrots and garlic and cook gently for 15 minutes.
• Add tomato paste and herbs and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Add wine and beef stock and mix well.
• Return meat to pan and heat to simmer.
• Cover and braise in oven at 350 for 2 hours.
• Uncover and cook for another 30 minutes or until meat is tender.
• Place meat on platter, surround with vegetables and pour some of the gravy over top.
• Serve remaining gravy on the side.

ASPARAGUS, HAM, AND POACHED EGG SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare a large bowl of ice water.
• Fill the pasta pot with 3 quarts of water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the coarse salt and the asparagus. Blanch, uncovered, until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. (Cooking time will vary according to the size and tenderness of the asparagus.) Immediately remove the colander from the water, letting the water drain from the asparagus. Plunge the asparagus into the ice water so they cool down as quickly as possible and retain their crispness and bright green color. (The asparagus will cool in 1 to 2 minutes. After that, they will soften and begin to lose crispness and flavor.) Drain the asparagus and wrap it in a thick kitchen towel to dry. (Do not cook the asparagus in advance or it will lose its crispness.)
• Break each egg into a ramekin or small cup. Set aside. In a large, shallow saucepan, bring 2 inches of water to a boil. Add the vinegar. One by one, bring the edge of a ramekin or cup level with the surface of the water and slide the egg in gently. Turn off the heat and cover the pan. Poach the eggs until the whites are firm but the yolks are still runny and are covered with a thin, translucent layer of white, about 3 minutes.
• With the sieve or slotted spoon, carefully lift the eggs from the water and transfer them to several thicknesses of paper towels.
• Place the salad greens and chives in a large salad bowl. Toss with just enough dressing to coat the greens lightly and evenly.
• Place the asparagus on a large plate and add just enough dressing to lightly coat the spears. Roll the asparagus in the dressing.
• Arrange the dressed greens at one side of each of 4 large dinner plates. (Rectangular plates are particularly beautiful here.) Carefully place a poached egg alongside. Arrange 4 asparagus spears next to the eggs. Carefully drape a slice of ham over each of the poached eggs. Season the greens lightly with fine sea salt and generously with pepper. Sprinkle with chives. Serve with the toast.

ASPARAGUS PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Lightly steam asparagus until tender, 6-10 minutes. Drain well and divide among 4 dishes.
• Top with tomatoes and set aside.
• Spray a small skillet with cooking spray; sauté yellow pepper, onion, garlic and herbs for 5 minutes. Add to Italian dressing and pour over asparagus. Sprinkle with parsley.