Blanched Asparagus With Toasted Walnuts 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.

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.

BLANCHED ASPARAGUS WITH TOASTED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Grate peel and squeeze juice from orange. Pour juice into small saucepan; set peel aside for later use. Bring juice to boil on medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 10 minutes or until juice is reduced by half.
• Meanwhile, blanch asparagus in boiling water; drain. Add oil to orange juice; beat with wire whisk until well blended. Stir in salt and pepper.
• Place asparagus on serving platter; drizzle with orange juice mixture. Sprinkle with orange peel and walnuts.

BLANCHED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Prepare 1 1/2 pounds medium-thick asparagus (see Rinse and Snap). Have a large bowl of ice water ready. In a large saucepan, bring 8 cups water to a boil. Season with 2 tablespoons coarse salt, and add asparagus; boil until tender, 3 to 4 minutes (depending on thickness).
• Remove with tongs, or drain in a colander, and immediately transfer to ice water for 1 minute to stop the cooking process. Drain; refrigerate until completely chilled.

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.

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.

SAUTéED ASPARAGUS, TOASTED ALMONDS & MANCHEGO CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and plunge in the asparagus. Cook for 2-3 mins, drain, then leave them to sit somewhere warm.
• Next, put the butter into a cold pan with the almonds. Carefully heat it up, watching that the butter doesn't get too dark. When it just turns golden brown and is beginning to foam, remove from the heat and pour in the lemon juice to stop the cooking.
• Arrange the asparagus onto 6 serving plates and spoon over some of the brown butter and almonds. Shave the cheese with a peeler, scatter over and serve.

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.

COUSCOUS WITH RHUBARB, ASPARAGUS AND TOASTED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallot and cook for 20 seconds. Add the asparagus and cook, stirring frequently, for 3 minutes. Add the zucchini, rhubarb and scallions and cook until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes.
• Place the couscous in a large bowl. Add the vegetable mixture, walnuts, walnut oil, lemon rind, salt and pepper and toss to coat. Divide among 4 plates and serve immediately.

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.