Asparagus With Herb Butter Recipes

BUTTER-BRAISED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Snap off and discard the tough bottoms of the asparagus spears. If using large, thick asparagus, peel the lower ends with a vegetable peeler.
• Put butter in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus in one layer and season with salt and pepper. Add 1/2 cup water, cover, and bring to a simmer. Cook until the asparagus is firm-tender, about 3 minutes. Take care not to overcook them; they should still be bright green. (They will continue to cook a bit once the heat is off.) Remove the asparagus from the pan and place on a serving platter.
• Turn heat to high and simmer briskly until most of the liquid has evaporated, a minute or so. Add lemon juice and zest to the buttery juices. Turn off heat and stir in chives, parsley, tarragon and dill, if using. Check seasoning. Spoon the sauce over the asparagus, garnish with a few herb leaves, and serve.

ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOMS IN LEMON-THYME BUTTER

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute asparagus and mushrooms in butter and oil until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients.

SAUTEED GARLIC ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Melt the butter or margarine in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and asparagus spears; cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until asparagus is tender. If you like your asparagus well done, reduce heat and cook an additional 10 minutes.

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 WITH FRESH HERBS

Steps:

• Stand asparagus, tips up, in two inches of water and steam, covered, until still slightly al dente. Remove to a serving platter.
• Meanwhile, make sauce. Combine basil, mint, lemon juice, chives, parsley, salt and pepper in blender or food processor. Add two tablespoons olive oil. Blend until smooth, adding more oil if necessary. You will probably need 3 to 4 tablespoons.
• Correct seasonings and pour sauce over asparagus. Serve at room temperature.

ASPARAGUS WITH HERB BUTTER

Steps:

• In small saucepan, melt butter.
• Stir in tarragon and lemon peel.
• Simmer 2 minutes over low heat.
• Pour over warmed asparagus spears.

DEEP-DISH HAM QUICHE WITH HERB AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• To make the pastry: combine the flour, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and mix with a pastry blender or your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Beat the egg yolk and ice water in a small bowl to blend, add it to the pastry. Work it in to bind the dough until it holds together without being too wet or sticky. Squeeze a small amount together, if it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Form the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle the counter and a rolling pin lightly with flour. Roll the dough out into a 14-inch circle about 1/4-inch thick. Carefully roll the dough up onto the pin (this may take a little practice) and lay it inside a 9-inch springform pan. Press the dough firmly into the bottom and sides so it fits tightly; trim the excess dough around the rim. Place the pan on a sturdy cookie sheet so it will be easier to move in and out of the oven, this quiche is pretty heavy.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• To make the filling: Heat a skillet over medium-low heat, coat the pan with oil, and add the onions. Slowly cook the onions, stirring, until they caramelize and release their natural sugars. Add a couple of tablespoons of water to help the onions break down, if needed. Toss in the ham, cook, stirring, for about 10 minutes to get some color on it. Remove from heat. In a large bowl, beat the eggs until frothy, pour in the cream; season with salt and pepper. Arrange the caramelized onions and ham over the bottom of the crust and carefully pour in the cream and egg mixture; the filling should be about 1-inch from the top of the pan. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for 15 minutes or until the quiche is set, puffy, and jiggles slightly. Remove to a wire rack and let cool for 30 minutes. In the meantime make the asparagus salad.
• To make the asparagus salad: In a large pot of boiling salted water, blanch the asparagus for 4 minutes, or until they are just crisp-tender. Drain the asparagus, transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking, and drain well. Slice the asparagus into 1/2-inch pieces and put them in a mixing bowl. Add the Parmesan and herbs, drizzle the herb and asparagus salad with olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, season with salt and pepper. Toss gently to combine.
• Loosen the quiche from the sides of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the inside rim. Carefully unmold the ring, and transfer the quiche (with the bottom base) to a serving plate. Cut it into wedges, drizzle with a little olive oil, and a few turns of freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with the asparagus salad on top.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON BUTTER

Steps:

• Wash asparagus and trim off bottom of stems by about 2 inches. In a large skillet, bring about 1/2 inch of water to a rapid boil. Season the water with salt and add the asparagus. Cook the asparagus for 2-3 minutes or until bright green and just tender. Drain the asparagus and add butter to the skillet. Stir in the zest and juice. Return the drained asparagus to the skillet and toss to coat. Serve immediately

SALMON WITH DIJON BUTTER SAUCE, ASPARAGUS AND HERB BUTTER ANGEL HAIR PASTA

Steps:

• Place asparagus spears into a large skillet, and pour in enough water to cover the bottom of the skillet about 1/2 inch deep. Place skillet over medium heat, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until the water has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Stir unsalted butter and pecans into the skillet with asparagus, and let simmer until asparagus are beginning to brown and pecans are fragrant, about 2 more minutes. Remove from heat.
• Season salmon fillets with salt and black pepper and set aside for about 5 minutes; pat off any excess moisture with paper towels.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, and pan-fry the salmon fillets in the hot oil until browned and the flesh flakes easily and is nearly opaque in the center, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Squeeze half a lemon over the salmon fillets as they cook.
• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a boil; stir in the angel hair pasta, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but still slightly firm, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain well and return to saucepan.
• Stir 2 tablespoons butter, parsley, and basil into the cooked pasta until coated; sprinkle with salt and black pepper to taste.
• To make sauce, melt 2 more tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan over low heat until melted; stir in Dijon mustard, and squeeze remaining lemon half into the sauce. Allow to simmer for about 3 minutes to blend flavors.
• To serve, divide angel hair pasta between two plates, top each serving of pasta with half the asparagus and pecans, and arrange a fillet over the asparagus. Spoon Dijon dressing over fillets to serve.

ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON-HERB SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring broth to boil in large pot. Add asparagus; cook until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Using tongs, transfer asparagus to large bowl of ice water. Reserve 1 cup broth in small bowl. Drain asparagus; pat dry. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap asparagus in paper towels. Seal in plastic bag. Cover broth. Chill asparagus and broth.)
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1 cup green onions, shallots and sugar. Sauté until onions and shallots are tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Stir in reserved 1 cup broth, 1 tablespoon oil, mustard, lemon juice, thyme and lemon peel. Simmer until slightly thickened and liquid is reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Cool to room temperature.
• Arrange asparagus on platter. Spoon sauce over. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup green onions and bell peppers.

BATTER FRIED ASPARAGUS WITH HERB OR LEMON DIPPING SAUCES

Steps:

• After cutting off the tough stems of the asparagus, wash well and pat dry with paper towels.
• Place oven rack in the middle position; preheat oven to 200°F
• In a bowl wide enough to easily batter-coat the spears, add the flour, egg, wine, lemon zest, onion powder, celery salt, Kosher salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Whisk together until well blended; batter should be on the thickish side. Let sit at least one (1) hour.
• For the dipping sauces:.
• HERB: Mix all of the herbs with the mayonnaise, season to taste. Chill, covered, until ready to serve.
• LEMON: Stir together all the ingredients in a small bowl. Chill, covered, until ready to serve
• Blanch the asparagus spears in boiling water. Drain, immediately run VERY cold water over them; blot dry on paper towels and set aside.
• Heat 3 inches oil in a 3 to 4-quart heavy saucepan over moderately high heat until it registers 375°F on a deep-fat thermometer. (COOK'S TIP: Remember to return the oil to 375°F between batches of asparagus.).
• Dip the asparagus spears ONE-AT-A-TIME in the batter - Coat completely. Gently lower the spear into the hot oil. Repeat with remaining asparagus spears, but DO NOT CROWD. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, turning with a slotted spoon until lighlty golden.
• Remove each asparagus spear with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined baking sheet; if desired, sprinkle lightly with Kosher salt. Keep warm in the pre-heated oven for up to 20 minutes.
• Serve warm with one or both of the dipping sauces.