White Bean And Asparagus Salad Recipes

WHITE BEAN AND ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH TARRAGON-LEMON DRESSING

Steps:

• If using canned beans, drain and rinse. If using dried beans, soak in plenty of water for 6 hours or overnight. Drain beans and transfer to a medium pot. Cover beans by 2 inches with water and add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the bay leaves. Simmer until just tender but not at all mushy, about 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours, depending upon what kind of beans you're using. Drain.
• Break off tough ends of the asparagus. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil and prepare a bowl with ice and cold water. Blanch trimmed asparagus for 1 1/2 minutes, or until just cooked through but still firm, then plunge them into the ice bath. Let sit for 5 minutes, then drain. Pat dry and slice diagonally into 1/2-inch pieces.
• In a blender or food processor, combine tarragon, lemon zest, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, the black pepper and the lemon juice, and process until garlic is chopped. Pour in olive oil. Process until mixture is well blended and bright green, about 1 minute.
• In a large mixing bowl, gently toss together beans, asparagus and dressing. Taste and add more lemon juice and salt if needed.

LEMONY PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS AND WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Grate the zest from the lemon into a small bowl. Halve the lemon and squeeze the juice from half of it on top of the zest. Add the white beans, shallot or onion, grated garlic, red-pepper flakes and a large pinch of salt and toss well. Drizzle in 1 tablespoon olive oil and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until just shy of al dente, usually 2 minutes less than the package directs.
• Meanwhile, heat a 12-inch sauté pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil, then add the asparagus. Sauté until the asparagus is tender and starting to brown at the edges, 7 to 10 minutes. Add a big pinch of salt and the sliced garlic and sauté until the garlic is lightly golden, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
• Dip a coffee mug or glass measuring cup into the pasta water and scoop out about 1/2 cup of it to use for the sauce. Drain pasta, shaking it well. Add pasta, bean mixture, parsley and Parmesan to sauté pan and cook until the beans are hot and the pasta is al dente. If the mixture looks dry, splash in some (or all) of the reserved pasta water. Squeeze remaining lemon half over pasta, toss and taste. Season with pepper; add more salt, red-pepper flakes and lemon juice, if desired.

GREEN BEAN AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Toss green bean pieces and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a bowl until the green beans are evenly coated; spread onto a baking sheet.
• Roast green beans in preheated oven until tender, about 10 minutes.
• Toss asparagus pieces and 1 tablespoon oil in a bowl until the asparagus is evenly coated; spread onto the baking sheet with the partially roasted green beans.
• Continue roasting the green bean and asparagus mixture until tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Toss the roasted green beans and asparagus with red onion, cherry tomatoes, and parsley in a large bowl; season with kosher salt and black pepper. Drizzle with olive oil to taste, if desired.

WHITE-BEAN AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Cut asparagus on a diagonal into 1/8-inch-thick slices.
• Bring oil, lemon zest, juice, salt, and pepper to a simmer in a 4-quart heavy saucepan, then stir in beans and asparagus. Remove from heat and let stand, uncovered, 10 minutes. While beans stand, toast bread until golden. Meanwhile, remove enough cheese from piece with a vegetable peeler to measure about 1/2 cup shavings. Add shavings to beans along with parsley, then toss.
• Spread hot toast with butter and rub buttered side of each with cut side of garlic clove, then season with salt and halve. Serve bean salad with toasts.

ASPARAGUS & WHITE BEAN SALAD WITH FETA & LEMON DRESSING

Steps:

• In a large, lidded pot with a steamer insert, fill with 1 1/2 inches of water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Steam the asparagus pieces, covered, until they are tender-firm, 4 to 7 minutes. Drain in a colander under cold, running water to stop the cooking. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon zest and juice, mint, salt and pepper.
• In a large bowl, combine the beans, feta cheese, radishes, scallions and steamed asparagus pieces. Add the dressing and gently toss to evenly coat. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

ASPARAGUS & WHITE BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• In a saute pan, cover the asparagus with salted water and boil until just tender (they begin to turn bright green). Immediately remove the asparagus from heat a place in an ice bath. Drain and combine asparagus, beans and red pepper.
• In a separate bowl, combine ingredients for dressing and stir together. Coat salad with dressing, if extra remains reserve for later in refrigerator. Salad can soften too much if left in pooled dressing.

FAVA BEAN AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Blanch and skin the fava beans and place them in a bowl. Use the blanching water to blanch the asparagus, or steam the asparagus if you prefer. If blanching, bring the water in the pot to a boil, salt generously and add the asparagus spears. Blanch 1 to 4 minutes, depending on how thick the asparagus is; fat spears (recommended) will take up to 4 minutes, but thin ones are ready in 1 minute. You can steam the asparagus over 1 inch boiling water for the same amount of time if you prefer. Transfer the lightly cooked asparagus to a bowl of cold water, then drain and dry on paper towels. Cut into 1-inch lengths. Add to the bowl with the fava beans. Add the herbs, and the chickpeas if using.
• Combine the lemon zest and juice, vinegar, garlic or shallots, and salt to taste in a bowl. Whisk in the oil and yogurt. Toss with the favas and asparagus. Add the shaved Parmesan, toss again and serve, or allow to marinate for 30 minutes, then serve.

TUNA, ASPARAGUS & WHITE BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the asparagus in a large pan of boiling water for 4-5 mins until tender. Drain well, cool under running water, then cut into finger-length pieces. Toss together the tuna, beans, onion, capers and asparagus in a large serving bowl.
• Mix the oil, vinegar and tarragon together, then pour over the salad. Chill until ready to serve.