Asparagus With Mousseline Sauce Recipes

ASPARAGUS MOUSSELINE

Steps:

• For the mousseline sauce: Place the egg yolks and citrus juices in a bowl over simmering water or in a double boiler. Cook, whisking, until thick and frothy with a ribbonlike texture, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter to emulsify. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• For the leeks: Thinly slice the leeks into matchsticks. Add the butter to a large skillet over medium heat, and cook until brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the leeks and saute until translucent and soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• For the asparagus: Bring a medium saucepan filled with cold water to a simmer, then add the salt. Cut the tough ends from the bottoms of the asparagus and peel the stalks. Blanch the asparagus in the simmering water for 3 to 4 minutes. Meanwhile, add ice to a medium mixing bowl filled with cold water. Add the blanched asparagus to the ice water to stop the cooking. Once the asparagus have chilled, remove from the ice water and pat dry.
• Arrange the leeks on a serving platter. Lay the asparagus on top. Glaze the asparagus with the mousseline sauce. Serve with the remaining sauce on the side.

ASPARAGUS WITH MOUSSELINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Snap the ends off the asparagus. Then, using a vegetable peeler, peel about 2 inches off the thickest part of the stems.
• Bring a big pot of water, with the salt and the sugar, to a boil. Drop in the asparagus, and cook for about 15 minutes, depending on the thickness. Pierce with a fork to see if they are tender; white asparagus should be cooked softer than green asparagus. Drain, and set aside.
• Meanwhile, to make the mousseline, separate the egg, and put the yolk in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the mustard, red-wine vinegar, and salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Pulse to combine. With the motor running, gradually drizzle in the oil until it emulsifies and you have a thick, creamy mayonnaise.
• Beat the egg white to stiff peaks. Mix half of the beaten egg white into the mayonnaise, then gently fold in the other half to make a very fluffy mousseline. Serve the hot asparagus with the mousseline on the side.

ASPARAGUS WITH ORANGE MUSTARD SAUCE AND SAUCE MOUSSELINE

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Cook asparagus until al dente (about 5 minutes, for regular asparagus and 3 minutes for pencil asparagus, from the time the water returns to a boil).
• Remove asparagus from the pot and refresh in ice water to stop the cooking process. Chill until needed.
• Serve with both cold Orange Mustard Sauce and hot Sauce Mousseline.
• In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, reduce the orange juice until only 1/2 cup remains. Transfer to a bowl and let cool, over a bowl of ice. Stir in mustard, salt, and pepper.
• Add whipped cream and stir until well blended. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.
• Yield: 1 1/2 cups
• In a heat resistant mixing bowl, combine the egg yolks, water, lemon juice, pepper, and salt. Whip over hot, not boiling, water until thick and creamy. Slowly whisk in the butter, a few drops at a time, until the mixture begins to emulsify. In a slow stream, whisk in the remaining butter until it is completely incorporated. Correct seasoning, to taste. Fold in the whipped cream and keep warm until needed.
• Yield: 1 1/2 cups
• Recipe courtesy Wolfgang Puck, "Modern French Cooking for the American Kitchen" Houghton Mifflin, 1981