Asparagus With Toasted Walnut Butter Recipes

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.

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.

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-BRAISED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Snap off and discard the tough bottoms of the asparagus spears. If using large, thick asparagus, peel the lower ends with a vegetable peeler.
• Put butter in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus in one layer and season with salt and pepper. Add 1/2 cup water, cover, and bring to a simmer. Cook until the asparagus is firm-tender, about 3 minutes. Take care not to overcook them; they should still be bright green. (They will continue to cook a bit once the heat is off.) Remove the asparagus from the pan and place on a serving platter.
• Turn heat to high and simmer briskly until most of the liquid has evaporated, a minute or so. Add lemon juice and zest to the buttery juices. Turn off heat and stir in chives, parsley, tarragon and dill, if using. Check seasoning. Spoon the sauce over the asparagus, garnish with a few herb leaves, and serve.

RAW & COOKED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON & PARMESAN BUTTER

Steps:

• Trim about two thirds of the asparagus to get rid of any woody ends, then set aside. Peel the remaining into ribbons using a vegetable peeler and tip into a bowl.
• Gently heat the butter, lemon zest and juice and lots of black pepper in a small saucepan. Stir in half the parmesan and keep warm.
• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the trimmed asparagus for about 2 mins until just cooked. Drain and tip into the bowl with the asparagus ribbons. Toss everything with the buttery sauce and the remaining parmesan. Season to taste, then serve.

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.

ASPARAGUS WITH SHALLOT BUTTER

Steps:

• Peel the asparagus, using a swivel-bladed knife, starting about 2 inches from the top. Remove the tough ends.
• Bring enough water to a boil to cover the asparagus. Add salt and the asparagus and cook 2 to 3 minutes, until crisp tender. Drain well, reserving 3 tablespoons of the liquid. Arrange on warm platter.
• Combine the shallots, lemon juice and reserved liquid in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook over high heat until half the liquid evaporates. Add butter gradually, stirring rapidly with a whisk. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring rapidly, 1 minute. Spoon the sauce over the asparagus and serve.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS W/ BLUE CHEESE & TOASTED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425.
• Trim and wash asparagus then arrange in a shallow roasting pan.
• Drizzle olive oil over asparagus and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Toss asparagus to evenly coat.
• Roast in oven for 10-12 minutes.
• Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with blue cheese, then top with walnuts.

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.