Asparagus Vichyssoise With Mint Recipes

MINTED LEMON ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together the lemon juice and mint. Set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Place the asparagus into the boiling water for about 45 seconds, then remove to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain the asparagus, and place on a serving plate. Drizzle with the lemon mixture, and sprinkle cheese over the top.

VICHYSSOISE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat; add leeks and season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks are very soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in potatoes, broth, and 1 cup water; season with salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are very tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Working in batches, transfer mixture to a blender and purée until smooth, adding more liquid as needed. Transfer to a large bowl; whisk in 1 cup cream, milk, and nutmeg; season with salt.
• Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 2 days. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup cream, then ladle into bowls and serve drizzled with more cream. Sprinkle with chives and pepper before serving.

ASPARAGUS WITH MINT BUTTER

Steps:

• Make the butter: Melt butter with mint, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat until just bubbling around edges.
• Make the asparagus: Cook asparagus in a pot of salted boiling water until bright green and tender, about 3 minutes. Drain.
• Drizzle a few tablespoons mint butter over asparagus, and toss gently to coat. Garnish with mint leaves.

ASPARAGUS VICHYSSOISE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks, celery and onion. Reduce heat and cover. DO NOT ALLOW THE VEGETABLES TO COLOR. Sweat the vegetables until they are translucent. Add the potatoes and the stock. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and continue to simmer lightly until the potatoes are very soft. Add the asparagus and cook only until the asparagus is tender. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Using a blender, puree until smooth. Chill.
• Before serving remove from the refrigerator and stir in cream. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with reserved cooked asparagus tips.

ASPARAGUS VICHYSSOISE WITH MINT

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add leek and potato; sauté 2 minutes. Add broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add asparagus. Simmer uncovered until asparagus is just tender, 5 to 6 minutes (depending on thickness of stalks). Remove pan from heat. Transfer 8 asparagus tips to small bowl for garnish.
• Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide soup among 4 shallow bowls. Freeze 15 to 20 minutes to chill quickly.
• Meanwhile, whisk cream, mint, and large pinch of salt in small bowl until cream is slightly thickened.
• Drizzle mint cream over soup, then garnish with asparagus tips.

PROSCIUTTO-WRAPPED ASPARAGUS WITH MINT DRESSING

Steps:

• Peel asparagus with a vegetable peeler starting 2 inches from tips, then cook in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain in a colander, then transfer to a bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking. Drain and pat dry with paper towels.
• Divide asparagus among 4 plates and wrap each pile with a slice of prosciutto to form a bundle.
• Blend together mint, garlic, broth, oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a blender, scraping down sides frequently, until smooth. Drizzle dressing over asparagus.

ASPARAGUS VICHYSSOISE

Steps:

• Put butter or oil in a large, deep saucepan and turn heat to medium. When butter melts or oil is hot, add vegetables. If you like, set aside 12 or 16 of the nicest pieces of asparagus; parboil in salted water for about 2 minutes and use as a garnish for the soup. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add stock and cook until vegetables are very tender, about 15 minutes. You may prepare soup in advance up to this point. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
• Purée soup in batches until very smooth. Chill. (Though vichyssoise is served cool, this soup could also be served warm.) Stir in cream, if using, taste and adjust seasoning, garnish if you like, and serve.

ASPARAGUS VICHYSSOISE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt butter on medium-high heat.
• Add onions, garlic, asparagus and potatoes and cook until onions are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Remove 12 asparagus tips and reserve for garnish.
• Add chicken broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 - 15 minutes or until vegetables are very tender.
• Puree soup in a food processor or blender until smooth, then return to saucepan.
• Add half-and-half cream and heat through, but do not boil.
• Season with salt and white pepper to taste.
• Serve garnished with grated cheese and reserved asparagus tips.
• This soup can be chilled and served cold.

ASPARAGUS VICHYSSOISE

Steps:

• Cut woody ends off asparagus and discard, cut asparagus into 3 cm lenghts, separate tips and stalks.
• Bring a pot of water to the boil, add asparagus tips and cook for 1 minute. Drain and run under cold water - place on a clean tea towel and reserve.
• Melt butter in a large pan, add leeks and cook over moderate heat until soft, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add asparagus stalk pieces, potatoes, thyme, chicken stock and 2 cups water and bring to a boil.
• Cover and simmer until potatoes are easily pierced with a skewer, about 20 minutes.
• Discard thyme springs, blend soup with hand blender or in a blender, add milk and season with salt & pepper to taste.
• Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until well chilled, about 4 hours or overnight.
• Serve soup in chilled bowls, scattered with chives and reserved asparagus tips.

PAN-FRIED MINTY ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large, shallow pan over medium heat. When oil is hot, arrange asparagus evenly over the bottom of the pan. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir once. Continue cooking, stirring as needed, until bright green and tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Stir in mint, cook for about 30 seconds, and remove from heat. Squeeze lemon juice over asparagus and season with salt and pepper.

VICHYSSOISE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in the pressure cooker pot over medium-low heat. Add the leeks, celery leaves and 1 teaspoon of the salt and cook, stirring often, until soft, approximately 8 minutes. If the leeks start to brown during this process, reduce the heat.
• Drain the potato pieces and add to the pot along with the simmering chicken broth. Clamp on the cooker's lid, (according to the manufacturer's instructions) and bring to full pressure over high heat.
• Once pressure is attained (there will be a loud whistle) back the heat down to medium-low, just maintaining a hissing of steam for 8 minutes.
• Kill the heat and release the steam pressure by opening the dump valve or setting the cooker under cold, running water. When the lid can be removed, carefully transfer the mixture to a blender carafe. (If the mixture fills your carafe more than two-thirds full, work in two batches!)
• Top the carafe with the main lid but remove the center lid so that air can escape as it heats and expands. Cover the lid tightly with a tea towel and blend on low for 1 minute before slowly increasing the speed to smoothly puree the potatoes. (Although you want to increase the speed slowly, try not to puree the potatoes too long as they could become gummy.)
• Transfer the mixture back to the pot and whisk in the cream. Stir in the white pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning (I always need the rest of the salt). Chill thoroughly then serve garnished with a small spoonful of the roe and dill fronds.
• Tightly covered, the vichyssoise will keep a week in the refrigerator. The soup can also be frozen in ice-cube trays then kept in freezer bags for up to three months.

POLENTA WITH ASPARAGUS, PEAS AND MINT

Steps:

• If cooking polenta on stovetop: In a medium pot over high heat, combine 4 1/2 cups water, polenta and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened, 30 to 40 minutes, depending on how finely the polenta is ground (coarse-ground polenta takes longer).
• Alternatively, cook polenta in oven: Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium Dutch oven or other oven-safe pot over high heat, bring 4 1/2 cups water, polenta and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, stirring constantly until the mixture starts to thicken slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Cover pot and transfer to the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, then give the mixture a stir. If it looks dry, add another 1/2 cup water. Cover the pot once more, and continue to bake for another 20 to 30 minutes.
• When polenta is thick and creamy, stir in 2 to 4 of the tablespoons butter (depending on how buttery you like it) and the Parmesan. Taste and add more Parmesan and salt, if needed.
• As the polenta cooks, prepare the vegetables: In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add shallots and sauté until tender and golden, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Stir in garlic and cook for another minute or two, until fragrant and very lightly golden in spots. Add vermouth and cook until alcohol evaporates, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in asparagus and peas, and cook until vegetables are glossy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add stock, remaining 2 tablespoons butter and a large pinch of salt, and bring to a simmer. Cook until vegetables are tender and sauce thickens slightly, 2 to 8 minutes. (Thicker asparagus will take longer to soften.) Stir in the mint. Taste and add more salt, if needed.
• To serve, spoon polenta into bowls, top with vegetables and their sauce, and grind on lots of fresh pepper. Finish with shaved Parmesan.