Asparagus And Double Smoked Bacon Popover Recipes

BACON AND ASPARAGUS FLAN

Steps:

• Slice the asparagus into lengths of about 5cm/2in. Half fill a large non-stick frying pan with water and bring to the boil. Add the asparagus, bring back to the boil and cook for a minute until just tender. Drain and rinse under running water until cold, then pat dry.
• Trim any fat off the bacon and cut into 1cm/½in strips. Return the pan to a low heat, add the oil and gently fry the onion and bacon until lightly browned, stirring regularly.
• Add the onion and bacon to the bowl with the asparagus, toss lightly and leave to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Place a baking tray in the oven to heat.
• Lightly oil a 20cm/8in loose-based fluted flan tin that's about 3.5cm/1½in deep. Pour the rest of the oil into a small bowl.
• Place a sheet of filo pastry in the flan tin, pressing it firmly against the base and sides. Using the tip of a pastry brush, brush the pastry with a little oil then cover with a second pastry sheet at a right angle to the first. Brush with more oil and cover with a third sheet at the same angle to the first. Brush with the oil and cover with a fourth sheet, running in the same direction as the second. Roll and crumple the overhanding pastry back on to the rim of the tin, lifting slightly above it, and brush lightly with the remaining oil. Place the tin on the baking tray.
• Put the cornflour in a non-stick saucepan and stir in 50ml/2fl oz of the milk to make thin paste. Pour over 200ml/7fl oz of the milk and stir well. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly.
• Cook for a minute over a medium heat, stirring, until the sauce is thick and smooth.
• Season, then remove from the heat and stir in the rest of the milk to cool and loosen the sauce.
• Stir in the beaten eggs until thoroughly combined.
• Scatter half the asparagus, bacon and onion mixture over the base of the pastry case and pour the white sauce gently on top. Scatter the remaining asparagus and bacon mixture on top and press down lightly, then sprinkle evenly with the cheese.
• Bake on the preheated baking tray in the centre of the oven for 25-30 minutes or until the pastry is lightly browned and crisp and the filling is set.
• Take the flan out of the oven and leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before removing. Serve warm or cold.

SMOKED SALMON AND ASPARAGUS PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Put the smoked salmon in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon zest, dill, hot sauce, smoked paprika and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the chives. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Lightly dust a clean surface with flour. Unroll the crescent dough and separate into 8 triangles, following the perforations. Cut each triangle in half lengthwise to make 2 thin triangles. Starting at the wide end of a triangle piece, spread 1 1/2 teaspoons of the smoked salmon mixture toward the tip. Place a piece of asparagus about 1/4 inch from the bottom of the dough's wide end, then roll up towards the tip. Place on the baking sheet with the tip of the roll-up flat on the baking sheet. Repeat with all the dough.
• Lightly whisk the egg with 1/2 teaspoon water. Brush the egg wash over each puff, then sprinkle some of the remaining chives over each. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes.

FETTUCCINE WITH ASPARAGUS AND SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Snap off the ends of the asparagus where they break naturally and peel the stalks. Cut the asparagus on a slant to pieces about an inch long.
• Steam the asparagus until they are just barely tender and still bright green, about three minutes. Rinse under cold water, drain well on paper towels and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.
• While the water is coming to a boil, melt the butter in a large heavy skillet. Add the shallots and saute until soft but not brown. Stir in the cream and simmer about five minutes, until the cream has thickened somewhat.
• Cut the salmon into slivers, add it to the cream and remove the skillet from the heat. Season with pepper and lemon juice. Add the asparagus.
• When the pot of water is boiling, add the fettuccine, stir it once or twice, then cook two to three minutes after the water has returned to a boil. Drain well.
• Briefly reheat the sauce. Transfer the fettuccine to a warm serving bowl, pour the sauce over it and toss. Sprinkle with dill and serve.

BACON WRAPPED ASPARAGUS BUNDLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven, if using, to 400 degrees F.
• Lightly coat asparagus spears in extra-virgin olive oil. Season the asparagus with black pepper. Take a quick count of the spear tips. Divide the total number by four. Gather that number of spears and use a slice of bacon to wrap the bundle and secure the spears together. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
• To grill, place bundles on hot grill and cover. Cook 10 to 12 minutes until bacon is crisp and asparagus bundles are tender.
• For oven preparation, place bundles on slotted broiler pan. Bake 12 minutes.

WARM ASPARAGUS AND BACON TOAST WITH RED PEPPER-SHALLOT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the asparagus on a baking sheet in 4 bunches of 4 or 5. Place 2 pieces of bacon over each bunch, forming an X. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the asparagus is partially cooked. Remove from the oven, leaving the oven on.
• Lightly toast the bread in the oven. In a small bowl, combine the oil and garlic and brush on the bread. Transfer each bundle of asparagus and bacon to a slice of bread and top with a slice of cheese. Place on the baking sheet and bake for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
• To serve, spoon 1/4 of the vinaigrette on each of 4 plates. Place a warm toast on each pool vinaigrette.
• To make the vinaigrette: In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir in the chives, olives, shallots, and bell pepper; set aside.