Asparagus With Watercress Sauce Recipes

ASPARAGUS AND WATERCRESS, STIR-FRIED

Steps:

• Snap off the ends of the asparagus where they break naturally, then cut them into slices one-half inch thick sharply at an angle.
• Rinse and drain the watercress and trim off any heavy stems. Separate the watercress into branches.
• Shortly before serving time, heat the oil in a wok or large skillet. Add the asparagus and stir-fry them two to three minutes until they begin to lose their rawness and turn bright green. Sprinkle them with sugar.
• Add the watercress and stir-fry until the watercress wilts. Season with salt. Transfer to a serving dish and serve hot or at room temperature.

ASPARAGUS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, mustard, vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon salt until smooth and emulsified.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Sprinkle generously with salt. Add the asparagus to the water and, depending on the size of the asparagus, blanch for 3 to 5 minutes. It should still have some bite left to it. Add the warm asparagus to the dressing and toss well to coat.
• Fan the asparagus out on a platter and sprinkle with the mizuna. Scatter the hazelnuts and goat cheese on top and drizzle with any dressing that may remain in the bowl.

ASPARAGUS POTATO AND WATERCRESS SOUP

Steps:

• Over medium heat, sweat the shallots and garlic in butter in a pot.
• Once the shallots are translucent add the potato, asparagus and tarragon.
• After a minute, add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
• Once the asparagus and potatoes are cooked through (timing will depend on size of pieces), puree in a blender and pass through a fine strainer.
• Place back in pot and bring to a boil.
• Since watercress is a little bitter, I suggest you add it gradually- puree& taste.
• Repeat until it suits you.
• Add the cream and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Garnish with chervil.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS WITH HERB SAUCE

Steps:

• Wash the asparagus carefully and gently scrape them to remove all trace of soil. Tie together, according to size, with string. Put the asparagus into two inches of boiling, salted water. Cook, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes, according to size; the asparagus should remain al dente. Drain and put into cold water briefly to cool rapidly and to maintain color. Drain on paper towels, then place on a round platter, tips toward the center.
• Prepare a sauce with the remaining ingredients. Place all the herbs except for the additional watercress in a blender, add the salt and pepper, and blend for a second. Add the lemon juice and then the oil in a trickle to the blender on low speed. Pour the sauce over the cooled asparagus. Garnish with the reserved watercress. Serve at room temperature.

ASPARAGUS WITH CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large micro-wave safe glass bowl, heat butter about 50 seconds on high, or until melted.
• Whisk in the 2 tablespoons of flour and 1 cup of heated milk.
• Add 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.
• Place in microwave and cook on high for 2 minutes, pausing to whisk thoroughly every 30 seconds.
• Season to taste with salt and whisk again.
• Set cheese sauce aside.
• Bend asparagus until they break at a natural point; discard ends.
• Place asparagus spears in a microwavable glass covered dish, with half the spears going one way, and half the spears going the other way.
• Add 1/4 cup water to the dish.
• Cook, covered, for 6-7 minutes on high, pausing to turn dish every 2 minutes and checking asparagus for doneness.
• Reheat sauce for 1 minute on high before adding to asparagus, if necessary (you may not need all the sauce).

ASPARAGUS WITH FRESH BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the first 6 ingredients until blended; refrigerate until serving., In a Dutch oven, bring water to a boil. Add asparagus in batches; cook, uncovered, until crisp-tender, 2-3 minutes. Remove and immediately drop into ice water. Drain and pat dry. Serve with sauce.

ASPARAGUS WITH DIPPING SAUCES

Steps:

• To make the Parmesan butter, tip the lemon juice into a small saucepan and, over a very low heat, add the butter. Melt and stir the butter into the lemon juice until you have a smooth sauce, add the Parmesan and season to taste, then set aside.
• To make the Asian dressing, using a pestle and mortar, crush the chilli with the brown sugar, then stir in the lime juice until the sugar has dissolved. Stir through the soy sauce and sesame oil, then set aside.
• For the garlic mayonnaise, mix all the ingredients together. Decant the sauces into 3 serving dishes.
• Bring a large pan of water to the boil and cook the asparagus for 2-3 mins until just tender. Drain well and serve steaming hot in a pile for everyone to help themselves and dip into the sauce of their choice.

ASPARAGUS SOUP WITH SUMAC AND WATERCRESS

Steps:

• For the soup base: Melt the butter in a soup pot over medium heat. When the butter is bubbling and frothy, add the shallot and the celery and cook for 2 minutes. Add the diced potato, thyme, bay leaf, and stock. Turn the heat to high, bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes until potatoes are tender.
• Finish the soup: While the soup base simmers, snap the woody ends off the asparagus, about 2 inches from the root end. Discard those ends and cut the remaining spears into 1-inch long pieces. Add the cut asparagus to the pot, cover, and cook for 4 more minutes. Add the watercress, tahini, cream, salt, and sumac. Remove (and discard) the bay leaf and thyme sprigs and remove from heat. Carefully pour the soup into a blender and puree until smooth. Ladle into soup bowls.
• Garnish the soup: Garnish the soup with feta, potato chips, scallions, aleppo pepper, olive oil, and serve.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH PARMESAN CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place asparagus on the baking sheet and season with salt and black pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and lightly toss to coat evenly.
• Roast in the preheated oven until asparagus is tender-crisp, about 10 minutes for thin asparagus, or 14 minutes for large asparagus.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and stir for 1 to 2 minutes until softened, taking care not to burn garlic. Sprinkle flour onto butter and cook, whisking constantly until mixture is golden and thick, 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk and bring to a light boil until sauce starts to thicken, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Sprinkle in Parmesan cheese and continue whisking until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat - sauce will further thicken.
• Place asparagus on a serving platter and drizzle with cheese sauce. Garnish with lemon zest and serve immediately.

SEA BASS WITH WATERCRESS SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt butter with oil in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add sea bass to skillet; cook just until opaque in center, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer fish to plate; tent with foil to keep warm. Pour off all but 1 teaspoon drippings from skillet. Add shallots to same skillet; stir 30 seconds. Add Vermouth; bring to boil. Continue to boil 1 minute. Add cream; boil until sauce thickens slightly and coats spoon, about 3 minutes. Add 3/4 cup watercress to sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer fish to plates. Spoon sauce around fish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup watercress and serve.

ASPARAGUS AND WATERCRESS PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees with rack in lower third. Toss together asparagus, onion, and 1 tablespoon oil in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• Brush a rimmed baking sheet with 2 tablespoons oil. Using your hands, gently stretch dough from all sides to approximate size of baking sheet. Place dough on baking sheet, stretching and fitting it to edges of sheet.
• Brush dough with remaining 2 tablespoons oil, then spread with ricotta, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top with asparagus mixture; sprinkle with mozzarella.
• Bake until crust is golden brown and asparagus is tender, about 20 minutes. Top with watercress, season with salt, and sprinkle with pepper flakes. Cut into pieces and serve.

BAKED ASPARAGUS WITH BALSAMIC BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Arrange the asparagus on a baking sheet. Coat with cooking spray, and season with salt and pepper.
• Bake asparagus 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until tender.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat, and stir in soy sauce and balsamic vinegar. Pour over the baked asparagus to serve.

ASPARAGUS CRESS SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute onion in butter 3-4 minutes or until soft. Stir in flour to form a smooth paste. Cook for 2 minutes. Gradually stir in broth and bring to a boil. Add asparagus and watercress; cover and simmer 5-7 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Cool. , In a blender, process soup in batches until smooth. Return all to pan; stir in cream. Heat on low until cooked through (do not boil). Season with the salt, white pepper and cayenne. Serve with a dollop of sour cream.

PARMESAN-CRUSTED CHICKEN AND ASPARAGUS WITH SAUCE MALTAISE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°F. Butter large rimmed baking sheet with 2 tablespoons butter. Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in small saucepan and set aside. Whisk eggs and mustard in bowl to blend. Mix panko, Parmesan, salt, and pepper in large bowl. Dip chicken into egg mixture, then panko mixture, coating generously. Place on prepared baking sheet. Drizzle reserved melted butter over chicken. Bake chicken until browned and cooked through, turning once, about 10 minutes.
• Garnish chicken with watercress; serve with Asparagus with Sauce Maltaise.
• *Available in the Asian foods section of some supermarkets and at Asian markets.