Herbed Broad Bean Feta Crostini With Asparagus Recipes

ASPARAGUS AND BROAD BEANS

Steps:

• Cook the podded broad beans in a large pan of boiling salted water for 2-3 minutes, then use a slotted ›spoon to remove the broad beans, leaving the water in the pan. Refresh in cold water, then squeeze them from their thin skins and set aside.
• Bring the water back up to the boil, then add the asparagus. Cook for 2-3 minutes until just soft, then drain.
• In a bowl, toss together the asparagus, broad beans and the dressing ingredients. Taste, adjust the seasoning and serve warm.

TOMATO CROSTINI WITH WHIPPED FETA

Steps:

• For the whipped feta, place the feta and cream cheese in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse until the cheeses are mixed. Add 1/3 cup of the olive oil, the lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and process until smooth.
• For the tomatoes, up to an hour before you're serving, combine the shallots, garlic, and vinegar in a medium bowl. Set aside for 5 minutes. Whisk in the remaining 1/3 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the tomatoes, stir gently, and set aside for 10 minutes. Stir in the basil and taste for seasonings.
• To assemble the crostini, spread each slice of bread with a generous amount of whipped feta. With a slotted spoon, place the tomatoes on top. Put the crostini on plates and scatter with the pine nuts. Sprinkle with extra basil and serve.

HERBED CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheatbroiler.Mix herbs and cream in a small bowl. Brush 1 side of each slice of bread with cream mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Place bread slices on a baking sheet, cream side up. Broil, flipping once, until gold and crisp, about 4 minutes total.

ASPARAGUS CROSTINI

Steps:

• For an easy party snack, spread fresh ricotta on toasted baguette slices, then top with thinly sliced asparagus. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil or truffle oil.

HERBED ORZO WITH FETA

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and a splash of oil, and bring the water to a boil. Add the orzo and simmer for 9 to 11 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's cooked al dente. Drain and pour into a large bowl. Whisk together the lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Pour over the hot pasta and stir well.
• Add the scallions, dill, parsley, cucumber, onion, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Toss well. Add the feta and stir carefully. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend, or refrigerate overnight. If refrigerated, taste again for seasonings and bring back to room temperature before serving.

GRILLED VEGETABLE ANTIPASTO WITH HERBED CHEVRE AND CROSTINI

Steps:

• Grilled Vegetable Antipasto:
• 1. Brush the grill grates lightly with the safflower oil. Prepare a hot fire on a gas or charcoal grill.
• 2. Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, and basil in a small bowl until well blended. Brush the zucchini, yellow squash, onion, red bell peppers, and scallions with the olive oil mixture. Place the vegetables on the hot grill and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side until crisp-tender. Season with salt and pepper.
• 3. Soak the sun-dried tomatoes in 1 cup hot water, covered, about 5 minutes or until softened. Drain and set aside. (Note: Eliminate this step if you are using sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil.)
• 4. Arrange the grilled vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes, and sliced tomatoes on individual plates or a serving platter. Add a slice of chevre on the side of the vegetables. Drizzle the vegetables with the vinaigrette, and drizzle a little more vinaigrette around the place. Garnish with the parsley and basil. Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired, and serve with crostini.
• Crostini:
• Makes 25 to 30 crostini
• 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
• 2. Slice the bread on a slight angle into 1/4-inch-thick slices and place on a baking pan in a single layer.
• 3. Mix together the olive oil, butter, parsley, dill and pepper in a small bowl.
• 4. Brush one side of each piece of bread with the butter mixture and sprinkle with the salt. Toast in the oven 10 to 15 minutes, until golden brown and crunchy.
• 5.Let cool completely, then store in an air-tight container up to 1 week.
• Herbed Balsamic Vinaigrette:
• 1. Combine the vinegar, lemon juice, herbs, and pepper in a small bowl and stir to mix.
• 2. Slowly add the olive oil and the canola oil and whisk until all the oil is incorporated. Refrigerate in an air-tight container until ready to use or up to 1 week.
• Herbed Chevre:
• 1. Mix the parsley and pepper together on a plate. Roll the chevre log in the mixture, pressing lightly so the seasonings adhere. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill 1 to 2 hours.
• 2. Remove the log from the refrigerator and unwrap. Cut into 1-inch slices with string, dental floss, or wire. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve

ASPARAGUS, BEAN, AND FETA SALAD

Steps:

• steam the asparagus, covered, 2 minutes or until crsip-tender. Rinse asparagus with cold water and drain.
• Combine asparagus and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl.
• Combine the juice and remaining ingredients in a small bowl; stir well with a whisk. Pour over asparagus mixture and toss gently to coat.

HERBED BROAD BEAN & FETA CROSTINI WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and cook the broad beans for 5-6 mins until tender. Immediately plunge into a bowl of ice-cold water. Squeeze the broad beans from their pods and transfer to the bowl of a food processor with the olive oil, feta, honey, lemon juice and dill fronds. Season with black pepper and blitz to a smooth purée.
• Meanwhile, brush the baguette slices with some olive oil and toast or griddle until golden. Rub with the cut side of a halved garlic clove. Finely chop the blanched asparagus spears and toss in a little olive oil with a squeeze of lemon juice. Spread the purée over the crostini and top with the sliced asparagus and some extra dill. Leftover purée will keep in the fridge for up to two days.

LEMON-HERB ASPARAGUS CROSTINI

Steps:

• Toss 1/2 pound asparagus (trimmed and thinly sliced) with 2 tablespoons each lemon juice and chopped basil, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest and a pinch each of salt and red pepper flakes. Rub toasted baguette slices with a halved garlic clove. Top with ricotta, the asparagus and chopped chives.

WHITE BEANS AND ROSEMARY CROSTINI

Steps:

• Heat a fireplace to medium heat. Adjust the grill racks over the flame and heat a heavy Dutch oven over the rack. Alternatively, heat a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Once hot, add the oil to the saucepan. Add the pancetta and render some of its fat. Add the rosemary and garlic, and saute until fragrant. Stir in the beans, lemon juice and some salt and pepper. Mash the beans with the back of a wooden spoon. Don't mash them all smooth, you want some texture.
• Toast the baguette slices. Serve the beans on top of the toasted baguette. Drizzle with olive oil if desired.

ASPARAGUS & WHITE BEAN SALAD WITH FETA & LEMON DRESSING

Steps:

• In a large, lidded pot with a steamer insert, fill with 1 1/2 inches of water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Steam the asparagus pieces, covered, until they are tender-firm, 4 to 7 minutes. Drain in a colander under cold, running water to stop the cooking. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon zest and juice, mint, salt and pepper.
• In a large bowl, combine the beans, feta cheese, radishes, scallions and steamed asparagus pieces. Add the dressing and gently toss to evenly coat. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

BAKED ZUCCHINI WITH HERBED BROAD BEANS

Steps:

• Microwave beans until tender. Remove skins from beans.
• Cut zucchini in half lengthways. Using a small spoon scoop flesh out leaves 1cm thick shells.
• Microwave zucchini until just tender.
• In a fry pan add a little oil and stir fry garlic & onion. Add beans, reserved zucchini flesh and tomato's. Stir until hot. Add vinegar and herbs.
• Divide bean mix between zucchini shells, sprinkle with a bit of Parmesan and bake for 15 minutes.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH FETA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F.
• Heat olive oil, minced garlic, lemon zest, oregano, and red pepper flakes in a small pan over low heat until garlic becomes golden and oil becomes fragrant; remove from heat and allow to cool.
• Bend asparagus gently until it breaks at a natural point and discard ends.
• Toss asparagus pieces with infused olive oil and place in a single layer on a baking sheet (one with a side edge).
• Season asparagus with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle asparagus with crumbled feta cheese.
• Roast at 400F for 12 minutes or until cooked to your liking.
• Sprinkle with chopped parsley and squeeze the lemons over the asparagus, being careful to catch the seeds.
• Serve hot.