Grilled Sardines And Asparagus With Citrus Chiles And Sesame Recipes

GRILLED SOY-SESAME ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat grill for high heat.
• In a bowl, mix sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, and brown sugar. Place asparagus in the bowl, and toss to coat.
• Lightly oil a fine-mesh grill grate. Place asparagus on grate, and cook 8 minutes, until tender but firm. Garnish with sesame seeds to serve.

SESAME GRILLED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a shallow pan, soak skewers in cold water for 1 hour, then drain and set aside.
• Preheat grill to high. Snap off the woody bases of the asparagus and discard. Skewer 4 or 5 asparagus spears together, using the toothpicks or 2 bamboo skewers, forming a raft shape.
• In a small bowl, combine the sesame oil, soy sauce, and garlic and stir with a fork to mix. Brush this mixture on the asparagus rafts on both sides. Season the asparagus with a little salt and lots of pepper.
• When ready to cook, place the asparagus rafts on the hot grate and grill until nicely browned on both sides, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds as they grill. You can serve the asparagus as rafts or unskewered.

GRILLED SARDINES AND ASPARAGUS WITH CITRUS, CHILES AND SESAME

Steps:

• Prepare a medium-hot grill. Break off the woody ends of the asparagus, and peel each stalk from the flower all the way to the end. Blanch the asparagus in salted water until bright green but slightly crunchier than you want. Spread them out on a baking sheet, and allow to cool.
• Brush the sardines with a small amount of olive oil, and season with salt and a big pinch of the sesame seeds. Toss the cooled asparagus with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and sesame as well.
• Break up the chiles into manageable pieces, and grind in a coffee or spice grinder to a coarse texture. Rehydrate the chiles by mixing with a couple of tablespoons of boiling water.
• Pound the garlic with a mortar and pestle until it is a roughish purée. Chop the herbs. Mix the chiles, garlic and herbs with enough olive oil to make a thick but pourable sauce. Add a pinch of salt, and taste.
• Put the sardines on the grill, and cook until fairly brown and halfway done. Carefully flip them over, and grill on the other side. Larger sardines will take 3 or 4 minutes on each side, smaller ones about 2 minutes on each side. Grill the asparagus for about the same time.
• Spread the citrus on a platter, and lightly season with salt. Place the hot sardines and asparagus on top of the citrus. Spoon over some of the herby chile sauce, and sprinkle the rest of the sesame over the top. Serve the remaining sauce on the side.

SUNNY'S GRILLED ASPARAGUS SOUP WITH CHILE-CHEESE CIABATTA TOAST

Steps:

• For the soup: Preheat a grill for direct and indirect cooking or oven to 400 degrees F. If using a grill, set a wire rack directly on the grill grate.
• Brush the asparagus and scallions all over with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and place over the direct heat of the grill. Cook, turning a few times, until limber and partially charred, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove to a cutting board.
• Make the toast: In a small bowl mix the jam and sambal. Spread on the cut side of the rolls. Divide and pile the cheese on top of the jam on each roll and place over the indirect heat of the grill (directly on the grates or on a baking sheet). Cook, covered, until the cheese is melted, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Build the soup. Transfer the grilled veggies to a cutting board and roughly chop. Add to the jar of a blender. Add the stock, yogurt and parsley and blend until smooth.
• Put the soup, lemon zest, garlic and salt to taste in a medium pot over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to warm through. Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed.
• To finish the soup: In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, lemon juice and honey. Pour the soup into bowls. Spoon 3 drops of the yogurt mixture into each bowl and run a skewer in a circle through the yogurt mixture to make a decorative pattern.
• Serve the toast alongside the soup.

GRILLED SARDINES OVER WILTED BABY ARUGULA

Steps:

• Prepare a stove-top griddle or outdoor grill. Rinse the arugula, shaking off any excess water. Arrange on a large platter and set aside.
• Rinse the sardines in cold water, rubbing to remove the scales. Wipe dry. In a bowl, combine the sardines and olive oil and toss to coat. Grill over very hot coals or heat about 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until the sardines are crispy and golden. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer immediately to the arugula-lined platter and serve with lemon wedges.

LEMON-SESAME ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Place the asparagus in a large pot filled with water 1 inch deep. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender, but still bright green. This will take about 5 minutes, or longer if your asparagus spears are thick. Drain and place on a serving dish.
• Meanwhile, melt the margarine or butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the sesame seeds, and cook, stirring frequently, until they are golden brown and toasted, about 2 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and parsley; season to taste with salt and pepper.
• To serve, pour sauce over the cooked asparagus.

GRILLED SESAME ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Soak 2-3 bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes or more.
• Wash asparagus and snap the ends off. *Note: Snapping the ends off with your fingers rather than cutting will prevent the asparagus from being stringy.
• Thread the asparagus spears onto the bamboo skewers.
• Spoon or brush the toasted sesame oil onto the asparagus.
• Spoon or brush the soy sauce onto the asparagus.
• Sprinkle with pepper.
• Place on BBQ grill and cook for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp.
• Sesame seeds can be added after cooking or before, whichever you like better.
• Any extra soy sauce-oil mixture can either be used for dipping or basting during cooking.

GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH SESAME GINGER AND SOY

Steps:

• Preheat BBQ or chargrill.
• Combine water, ginger, lime juice and chilli, stir well set aside.
• Toss asparagus in oil and grill until charred on all sides.
• Mix with garlic and sesame seeds.
• Add soy and reserved ginger mixture. Serve.

CHILLED ASPARAGUS WITH SESAME VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cook asparagus in large skillet of boiling salted water until just crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain. Rinse with cold water and drain well. Pat dry with paper towels. Arrange on platter. Mix sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce and sugar in small bowl. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. (Asparagus and dressing can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate.) Spoon dressing over asparagus. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

GRILLED FRESH SARDINES WITH FENNEL AND PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Cook fennel:
• Heat oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook fennel, onion, preserved lemon rind, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Add water and braise, covered, stirring occasionally, until fennel is very tender and slightly caramelized and water is evaporated, about 10 minutes. Keep warm, covered.
• Grill sardines while fennel cooks:
• Rinse sardines and pat dry, then spread out on a platter. Drizzle sardines with 1 tablespoon oil and sprinkle with sea salt, fennel seeds, and pepper.
• Heat grill pan over moderately high heat until hot. Oil grill pan and grill sardines, in 2 batches if necessary, turning over once, until just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes total per batch. Transfer as cooked to a clean platter with a slotted spatula.
• Stir together lemon juice and remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Serve sardines on fennel mixture sprinkled with dill and drizzled with lemon dressing.

SESAME GRILLED ASPARAGUS RAFTS

Steps:

• With one hand, hold an asparagus stalk at its base. Bend the stalk over with your other hand - the asparagus will break where the woody part ends and the tender part begins. Discard the base. Place 4 or 5 asparagus stalks next to one another. Skewer them crosswise in two places - just below the tips and 3cm from the bottom - with slender bamboo skewers. You will end up with something that looks like a raft.
• In a small bowl, combine the sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic and sesame seeds and stir with a fork to mix. Brush this mixture on the asparagus rafts on both sides. Season the asparagus with a little salt and lots of pepper.
• Grill the asparagus on a barbecue or in a griddle pan for 4-5 mins per side, turning with tongs. Sprinkle with sesame mix as they grill.