Asparagus Bocconcini Recipes

GARDEN PASTA WITH BOCCONCINI

Steps:

• Make the dressing: Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil; add the garlic and cook 2 minutes. Remove the garlic and place in a blender with the cherry tomatoes, vinegar and basil; puree until smooth. With the motor running, add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Make the salad: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente (about 2 minutes less than the label directs). Drain and rinse under cool water; shake off the excess. Transfer the pasta to a bowl and toss with the dressing.
• Shave the zucchini into strips with a vegetable peeler or mandoline; halve the strips crosswise and add to the pasta. Add the tomatoes, bocconcini, pine nuts and basil and toss. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, up to 6 hours. (Bring to room temperature before serving.)

SKILLET-BAKED EGGS AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 300 degrees. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Add the asparagus and the scallions and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until asparagus is browned and tender.
• Whisk together the eggs, 4 tablespoons of the herbs, and cream. Whisk in Parmesan, salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture over asparagus and place the skillet in the oven.
• Bake for about 20 minutes, until set, but still slightly jiggly in the center. Cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before serving. It is best warm, not hot.
• Squeeze one or two lemon wedges over it, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt and remaining herbs. Cut into wedges.

FETTUCCINE WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
• Cut off tough ends of asparagus spears. Cut each on the bias into 1-inch lengths. There should be about 1 1/2 cups. Rinse well and drain.
• Add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook about 2 minutes. Remove asparagus with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Drop the fettuccine into salted boiling water. Let cook to desired degree of doneness (cooking time will range from about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes for fresh pasta to 9 minutes or more for dried). Reserve 2 tablespoons cooking water. Drain the pasta.
• Heat the butter in the pot in which the pasta was cooked. Add the asparagus pieces and the fettuccine. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg. Add the reserved 2 tablespoons of cooking water and basil. Toss to blend. Serve hot with Parmesan cheese on the side.

BAKED BROCCOLINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Place Broccolini in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Combine lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper; drizzle over Broccolini and toss to coat., Bake, uncovered, 10-15 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.

ASPARAGUS AND BOCCONCINI RISOTTO BAKE (SLICE)

Steps:

• Melt the butter and oil in a large pan. Add the sliced leek and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the leek is tender. Add the rice and continue to stir for one minute.
• Add the liquid stock, the water and cream. Mix to combine.
• Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in asparagus, spinach leaves, parmesan and parsley. Remove from the heat and stir in the eggs.
• Spoon in 1/2 of the rice mixture into a greased 12 cup ovenproof dish. Arrange the bocconcini over the rice. Top with the remaining mixture. Sprinkle over the tasty cheese. I use a lasagne dish to make this recipe.
• Cook uncovered 180 degrees celcius for 25 minutes or until the rice is tender.
• Stand at least 10 minutes before serving. The slice cuts better the longer that it is left.

LEMON-ROASTED BROCCOLI AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place broccoli florets in a bowl. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil oil and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon pepper seasoning. Toss to coat and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place 1/2 of the lemon slices over the top of the broccoli.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile place asparagus in the bowl. Add remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon pepper. Toss to coat.
• Add asparagus to the baking sheet in a single layer and place remaining lemon slices over the top of the asparagus. Cook for 10 minutes. Remove baking sheet from the oven and toss broccoli and asparagus together. Serve immediately.

VEAL BOCCONCINI WITH PORCINI AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Soak porcini in warm water in a small bowl until softened, about 20 minutes. Lift porcini out, squeezing liquid back into bowl, then rinse porcini (to remove any grit) and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Pour soaking liquid through a sieve lined with a coffee filter or a dampened paper towel into another small bowl.
• Pat veal dry. Toss one fourth of veal in flour. Heat oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then shake off excess flour and brown veal, turning, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl. Coat and brown remaining veal in 3 batches in same manner.
• Add wine to pot and deglaze by boiling, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 1 minute. Stir in veal with any juices accumulated in bowl, porcini and soaking liquid, cream, milk, tomatoes, chile, and rosemary sprigs and simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until veal is very tender, about 1 1/4 hours. Discard rosemary sprigs and chile, then stir in salt.

ASPARAGUS BOCCONCINI

Steps:

• Spray the asparagus lightly with an olive oil spray and stick the in the oven at 400°F/190°C with a few thinly sliced garlic cloves for about 5 minutes.
• To assemble: place asparagus on a plate, scatter bocconcini and olives on top and sprinkle combined oil and vinegar dressing over.
• If you like you may add a few leaves of roughly chopped fresh basil leaves as an added garnish.
• Serve either at room temp or refrigerate till serving time.