Chargrilled Asparagus Spring Onions With Chive Flowers Recipes

CHARGRILLED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Remove woody ends of asparagus.
• Toss asparagus in a bowl with olive oil.
• Heat a griddle, or barbeque and cook the asparagus for about 10 minutes, until al dente.
• Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with parmesan shavings to serve.

CHARGRILLED ASPARAGUS & SPRING ONIONS WITH CHIVE FLOWERS

Steps:

• Heat a griddle pan over a very high heat and add the olive oil - place the asparagus spears & spring onions in the pan, being careful that the oil does not spit and burn you.
• Cook for 2 to 4 minutes on one side, depending on the thickness and then turn over and continue to cook for a further 2 to 4 minutes. You are aiming for charred, but not burnt!
• Just before the end add the Balsamic vinegar and a little more oil if needed.
• Serve straight away with chopped fresh chives and chive flowers sprinkled over the top, and a lemon wedge per serving.

BUTTER-BRAISED SPRING ONIONS WITH LOTS OF CHIVES

Steps:

• Lay onions in a large skillet, trimming top of dark greens to fit. Add 2 tablespoons butter and 1/2 cup water to skillet; season with salt. Bring to a boil; cover. Reduce heat and simmer onions until greens are soft and bulbs are almost tender, 15-20 minutes. Uncover and cook, turning onions occasionally, until bulbs are completely tender, 5-8 minutes longer.
• Transfer onions to a plate. Simmer cooking liquid in skillet until reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and whisk in remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Return onions to skillet and turn to coat with sauce. Top with chives.

GRILLED SPRING ONIONS WITH ROMESCO SAUCE

Steps:

• Slice 4 garlic cloves in half crosswise and put them in a small, microwave-safe dish. Cover with 1/4 cup olive oil. Loosely cover dish with plastic wrap, cut a slit in top and cook in microwave on medium power for 1 minute, 20 seconds. Uncover and let cool. Alternately, saute garlic in oil until golden around edges, about 3 minutes.
• Place tomato cut-side down on a plate. Microwave on medium power for 4 minutes. Let cool, then pull off tomato skin; it should come right off. If not, cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute. Alternatively, roast tomato halves in a 350-degree oven until wrinkled and tender, 20-30 minutes, then peel.
• Chop remaining 3 cloves garlic and put in a food processor along with nuts and biscotti. Grind to a powder, add sun-dried tomatoes and yolks, and process until tomatoes are ground. Add cooked tomato, cooked garlic with oil, plus vinegar, paprika, salt and cayenne, and process until smooth. Slowly drizzle in remaining 1/4 cup olive oil. Taste and adjust salt and vinegar if desired. If mixture is too thick, slowly drizzle in 1-3 tablespoons warm water. (You can make sauce up to 5 days ahead.).
• To prepare onions, preheat a grill or broiler. Brush onions with oil and place on a grilling rack or broiler pan. Grill or broil for about 5 minutes a side, until browned and softened. Serve with romesco sauce.

SPRING ONION AND RICOTTA FRITTERS WITH AVOCADO SALSA

Steps:

• THE SALSA: Peel, stone and dice the avocados. Place in a bowl with the red onion, lime rind and juice. Add chilli, to taste (or sweet red pepper if you don't like spicy food), the tomatoes, mint and coriander. Season with salt, freshly ground black pepper, sugar and Thai fish sauce (omit this if you don't like spicy food). Mix well and set aside for 30 minutes.
• THE FRITTERS: Beat the ricotta until smooth, then beat in the egg and flour, then the flour, to make a smooth, thick batter. Then beat in the spring onions and coriander and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Heat the oil in a non-stick pan over a medium heat. Add spoonfuls of the batter mixture to make fritters (about 7.5 centimetres or 3" across) and lightly sauté for about 4-5 minutes on each side until the batter mixture has set and is a golden brown.
• SERVING: Taste the salsa and adjust the seasoning, adding more lime juice and/or sugar to taste. Serve the fritters with the salsa and dollops of crème fraiche. Garnish with coriander sprigs and lime wedges.

PAN-FRIED ASPARAGUS WITH ONIONS

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Cook and stir asparagus in melted butter until bright green, but still firm, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Stir 1 tablespoon butter and onion into asparagus; sprinkle with onion salt.
• Cook and stir until onion is slightly browned and asparagus are tender, 3 to 5 minutes.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS, ONIONS AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F.
• Line a 10 x 15 inch rimmed baking sheet with foil.
• Place vegetables in pan and sprinkle with olive oil and toss until covered evenly.
• Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
• Roast 10 minutes, stir, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and roast an additional 10 to 15 minutes until vegetables are slightly charred and tender.