Asparagus With Toasted Walnut Butter Recipes

ASPARAGUS WITH WALNUTS, PARMESAN AND BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Steam the asparagus until just tender, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until the foam has subsided and the butter turns a deep golden brown, about 4 minutes. (Take care that it doesn't burn.) Stir in the nuts and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and whisk in the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon nut mixture over warm asparagus and serve at once.

ASPARAGUS WITH TOASTED WALNUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Wash asparagus; snap off tough stem ends. In large skillet or Dutch oven, bring 1 inch of lightly salted water to a boil. Arrange asparagus spears evenly in skillet. Cover; cook 4 to 5 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender. Drain.
• Meanwhile, in small saucepan, mix butter and walnuts. Cook over low heat until butter browns and walnuts are toasted, watching carefully to prevent butter from burning. Stir in oil and salt.
• Arrange hot asparagus on large serving platter. Top with walnut butter.

ASPARAGUS WITH WALNUTS

Steps:

• 1. Fill a large bowl halfway with ice cubes and add some cold water. Place a colander squarely inside the ice bath. The colander will keep you from having to pick the asparagus out from amongst the ice cubes in the ice bath.
• 2. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Add the asparagus and cook for 1 to 1½ minutes. You want them to be crunchy. If the asparagus are thicker, cook for 1½ to 2 minutes.
• 3. Remove the asparagus from the water using a slotted spoon and transfer them to the colander inside the ice bath. Move them around gently so the ice water penetrates the asparagus and accelerates the cooling process. Vegetables take longer than you think to cool so allow them to sit a few minutes in the ice water. Hold a piece of the asparagus in your hand for a few seconds to assure that it's really cool (even in the center). If the piece still feels warm, allow them to cool longer in the ice bath. Place them on a kitchen towel to drain any excess moisture.
• 4. Heat oil a medium skillet until hot (but not smoking), add the walnuts and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. They should bubble and fry slightly in the oil. When you can smell the walnuts, add the paprika and cayenne and lower the heat to medium. Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, and transfer the mixture to a bowl. Set aside.
• 5. Toss the asparagus in the bowl with the walnuts and the oil. Let this mixture sit in the refrigerator for a few hours or a few minutes. When ready to serve, stir in the lemon juice. Serve immediately.

WOK-FRIED ASPARAGUS WITH WALNUTS

Steps:

• Snap off and discard bottoms of asparagus, then cut into 2-inch pieces. (Halve thicker pieces lengthwise first.)
• Set a wok over high heat and add vegetable oil. When oil is hot, add asparagus and season lightly with salt. Stir-fry for a minute or so, then add Sichuan pepper, five-spice powder, garlic, ginger, sugar, chiles, soy sauce and walnuts. Continue cooking over high heat for 1 to 2 minutes, tossing to coat well, until asparagus is cooked but still firm and bright green. (It will continue to cook a bit off the heat.)
• Transfer asparagus to a serving platter and drizzle with sesame oil. Sprinkle green onions over the top and garnish with cilantro sprigs.

BAKED ASPARAGUS WITH TOASTED WALNUTS

Steps:

• To cook asparagus: Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Break off woody stems of asparagus.
• If stalks are thick, peel with a vegetable peeler, pulling from stem end toward tip.
• (Pencil-thin spears do no need peeling.) Place in a greased or sprayed 9x13 inch glass baking dish.
• Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
• Dot with margarine.
• Cover with foil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until tender but still crisp.
• (Asparagus may be baked 1 day ahead and reheated in microwave.) To make topping: In a small bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• (Topping may be refrigerated overnight. Bring to room temperature before using.)
• Before serving: Spoon topping over asparagus and sprinkle with walnuts.

BUTTER-ROASTED HALIBUT WITH ASPARAGUS AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Thinly slice one-quarter of asparagus into coins and place in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Heat butter and 2 Tbsp. oil in a small saucepan over medium. As soon as butter is melted, add Aleppo-style pepper and remove from heat.
• Season fish with salt and black pepper on both sides and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Scatter ramps and remaining asparagus around fish; season with salt and black pepper. Pour butter mixture over fish and vegetables. Give vegetables a toss to evenly coat. Roast, undisturbed, until fish is just opaque in the center and asparagus is bright green and tender, 15-25 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fillets.
• Toss olives, chives, lemon juice, 2 Tbsp. tarragon, and remaining 5 Tbsp. oil with reserved asparagus; season with salt and black pepper.
• Transfer fish to a platter; top with ramps and asparagus. Spoon some olive mixture over, then scatter tarragon leaves over. Serve with potatoes, lemon wedges, and remaining olive mixture alongside.

ASPARAGUS WITH ORANGE DRESSING AND TOASTED HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Toast hazelnuts in a small shallow baking pan until golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Trim woody ends from asparagus and, if desired, peel lower 2 inches of stems with a vegetable peeler. Cook asparagus in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 6 minutes, and drain well in a colander. Whisk together remaining ingredients except nuts with salt and pepper to taste.
• Transfer hot asparagus to plates. Spoon orange dressing over top and sprinkle with nuts.

ASPARAGUS WITH PARMESAN BUTTER

Steps:

• Cook asparagus in large pot of boiling salted water until just crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain well. Arrange asparagus on broilerproof platter.Preheat broiler. Beat butter in medium bowl until fluffy. Beat in cheese, basil, garlic and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Drop butter mixture by teaspoonfuls over asparagus.
• Broil asparagus until topping browns, watching closely to avoid burning, about 3 minutes. Serve hot.

WALNUT RISOTTO WITH ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Bring broth to simmer in medium saucepan. Cover and remove from heat. Heat 1-1/2 teaspoons olive oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until light golden, about 4 minutes. Add rice and stir 1 minute. Add wine and stir until wine evaporates, about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup hot broth and cook until liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently. Continue adding more broth, 1/2 cupful at a time, until rice is tender and creamy, stirring frequently and allowing most of broth to be absorbed before adding more, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place asparagus and garlic in shallow baking dish. Drizzle remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil over. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat with oil. Bake asparagus until tender, turning occasionally, about 16 minutes.
• Mix walnuts and grated Parmesan into risotto. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange roasted asparagus in center of 4 plates. Top with risotto.

ASPARAGUS WITH TOASTED WALNUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Wash asparagus; snap off tough stem ends. In large skillet or Dutch oven, bring 1 inch of lightly salted water to a boil. Arrange asparagus spears evenly in skillet. Cover; cook 4 to 5 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender. Drain.
• Meanwhile, in small saucepan, combine butter and walnuts. Cook over low heat until butter browns and walnuts are toasted, watching carefully to prevent butter from burning. Stir in oil and salt.
• Arrange hot asparagus on large serving platter. Top with walnut butter.