Asparagus With Gruyere And Smoked Ham Recipes

ELSA'S HAM AND ASPARAGUS TOASTS

Steps:

• Holding 1 spear at each end snap off the tough stem of asparagus. Use this spear as a guide line to trim the bundle with a sharp knife. Simmer asparagus in salted boiling water 3 minutes. Drain and run under cold water. Cut asparagus to fit the size of the toasts.
• Toast 8 thick slices of farmhouse style bread under a preheated broiler 6 inches from heat. Combine softened butter and mustard. Spread the toasted bread with mustard butter. Cut sliced ham into smaller pieces to process. Grind the ham in your food processor. Spread the toast with ground ham. Arrange steamed asparagus spears on top of the layer of ham. Top each toast with a few grinds of black pepper and a mound of fontina cheese. Return toasts to hot oven under broiler and cook toasts until cheese melts and lightly browns at edges. Arrange ham and asparagus toast on a platter and serve.

ASPARAGUS, LEEK, AND GRUYERE QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in lowest position. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium. Add leek and asparagus; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until asparagus is crisp-tender, 6 to 8 minutes; let cool.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, 1/2 teaspoon salt, teaspoon pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Place pie crust on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with cheese; top with asparagus mixture. Pour egg mixture on top.
• Bake until center of quiche is just set, 50 to 60 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

ASPARAGUS HAM DINNER

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, saute asparagus and yellow pepper in oil until crisp-tender. Add tomatoes and ham; heat through. Drain pasta; add to mixture. Stir in parsley and seasonings. Sprinkle with cheese.

HAM STEAKS WITH GRUYERE, BACON & MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and shallot; cook and stir 4-6 minutes or until tender. Add garlic and pepper; cook 1 minute longer. Remove from pan; keep warm. Wipe skillet clean., In same skillet, cook ham over medium heat 3 minutes. Turn; sprinkle with cheese and bacon. Cook, covered, 2-4 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and ham is heated through. Serve with mushroom mixture. If desired, sprinkle with parsley.

SMOKED HAM, GRUYERE AND CARAMELIZED ONION FRITTATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, cream, Gruyere cheese, salt, and pepper until foamy. Melt butter in a cast iron pan over medium heat. Add the onion and potatoes and cook thoroughly. Pour the egg mixture over the top. Pull the edges away from the sides of the pan with a spatula so the eggs flow to the bottom of the pan. When the frittata is half set, add the ham.
• Transfer the pan to the heated oven. Bake for 10 minutes until puffed and golden. Shower with grated Parmesan and serve garnished with sour cream and chives.

SMOKED HAM AND GRUYÈRE EGG BAKE

Steps:

• 1. Coat 13x9-inch (3-quart) shallow glass or ceramic baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange bread in bottom; sprinkle with ham and cheese.
• 2. Whisk eggs in large bowl until blended; whisk in all remaining ingredients. Pour over bread mixture, pressing down with back of spatula to keep bread submerged. Cover and refrigerate 5 hours or overnight.
• 3. Heat oven to 350°F. Bake, uncovered, 50 to 60 minutes or until golden brown and knife inserted in center comes out moist but clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOM TARTS

Steps:

• Roll out each pastry sheet on work surface to 10-inch square. Cut each into 4 squares. Using small knife, score 1/2-inch border (do not cut through pastry) around inside edges of each square. Arrange squares on 2 rimmed baking sheets. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Sauté until tender and lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to large bowl; cool 15 minutes. Add asparagus, chopped thyme, lemon peel, 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to mushrooms. Mix in crème fraîche and cheese. DO AHEAD: Filling can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.
• Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Mound filling atop pastry squares, leaving 1/2-inch plain border.
• Bake tarts 12 minutes. Reverse sheets. Continue to bake tarts until crusts are puffed and golden and filling is cooked through, about 10 minutes longer. Transfer to plates; garnish with thyme sprigs.
• Sold at most supermarkets and at specialty foods stores.

HAM AND CHEESE CREPES

Steps:

• Add flour, milk, eggs, and melted butter to a blender and process until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Set batter aside for at least 20 minutes.
• Heat 1 teaspoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook onions, stirring occasionally, until they start to turn golden brown, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Coat a crepe pan or nonstick skillet over medium heat with about 1 teaspoon of the melted butter. Ladle about 1/4 cup batter into the pan, swirling the pan to thinly coat the entire bottom. Cook until small brown spots appear on the bottom of the crepe, about 2 minutes.
• Loosen crepe carefully from the pan using a spatula and gently flip to brown the other side, 1 to 2 minutes more. Slide crepe onto a plate. Repeat with remaining batter, buttering the pan as needed and stacking crepes between pieces of parchment or waxed paper.
• Assemble crepes, one at a time, in the still-warm pan; spread some mustard over one half, cover mustard with some ham slices, and top with Gruyere cheese. Fold the other side over the filling, pressing down slightly, and heat briefly just until the cheese starts to melt. Fold crepe in half again. Each finished crepe should end up about 1/4 the size of the original.

ASPARAGUS WITH GRUYERE AND SMOKED HAM

Steps:

• In a skillet large enough to hold the asparagus in a single layer, combine the oil, asparagus, and salt. Sprinkle with several tablespoons of cold water. Cover. Cook over high heat just until the oil and water mixture begins to sizzle. Reduce the heat to medium and braise the asparagus, turning from time to time, just until the vegetable begins to brown in spots, 8 to 10 minutes. Place the cheese on a large plate. Roll the asparagus in the cheese. Wrap each asparagus spear in a slice of ham and secure with a toothpick. Return the asparagus to the skillet and cook until the ham is crispy and brown, turning the asparagus with tongs, about 2 minutes. Serve immediately.