Springtime Frittata With Morels Asparagus Recipes

MOREL AND ASPARAGUS FRITTATA

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/8 teaspoon of thepepper. Mix in the Parmesan cheese. Set aside.
• Melt the butter in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the morels, season them with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, add pepper to taste and saute until they begin to soften, about 2 1/2 minutes. Add the asparagus and cook just until warmed through, about 1 minute.
• Pour in the egg mixture and lower the heat to medium. Use a rubber spatula to cut the mixture in the center, pushing back the solid ingredients and letting the raw egg run to the bottom of the skillet. Cook for 3 minutes. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
• Uncover and loosen the frittata with a spatula. Slide it out onto a plate, cover the plate with the skillet and invert the frittata back into the skillet. Cook just until set on the bottom, about 1 minute. Cut the frittata into wedges and serve with a green salad.

SPRING FRITTATA

Steps:

• Soak 1/2 cup stale bread cubes in 1/2 cup milk; mix with 8 beaten eggs. Add 3/4 cup ricotta, 1 teaspoon chopped thyme, and salt and pepper. Saute 1 cup shredded zucchini in an ovenproof nonstick skillet with oil. Add the egg mixture; cook until the bottom sets, then bake at 325 degrees F, 25 minutes.

ASPARAGUS AND SPINACH FRITTATA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks and saute for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and cool completely.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sauteed leeks with the spinach, asparagus, goat cheese, basil, Parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Mix well.
• Spray a 9-inch nonstick cake pan or springform pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add the breadcrumbs and shake to evenly coat the pan. Pour the egg mixture into the pan.
• Bake until solid and a toothpick comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
• Invert the frittata onto a plate and then flip, right-side up, onto a serving plate, or remove the sides of the springform pan and transfer to a serving plate.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

SPRING FRITTATA WITH MORELS, GRILLED ASPARAGUS AND GRILLED SCALLIONS

Steps:

• Fire up grill to medium heat. Rub asparagus and scallions with olive oil. Grill on all sides, for 4 to 6 minutes, or until tender. Remove from heat, and set aside. To make Grilled Red Pepper Romesco Sauce: Put peppers on grill, and cook until softened and mostly blackened on all sides, for 12 to 15 minutes. Put peppers in a paper or plastic bag to steam briefly until cool enough to handle. Strip off majority of blackened skins, rinsing your hands as needed. Slice peppers into chunks, discarding stems and seeds and reserving juices. Put peppers and any juices, almonds, garlic, vinegar, paprika, crushed red pepper and salt in a blender or food processor. With motor running, pour in oil, and process until combined and nearly smooth. Set aside. To make Frittata: Soak mushrooms in hot water to cover until soft, for about 15 minutes. Strain off, reserve 2 tablespoons of water and discard grit. Halve or quarter mushrooms if larger than bite-sized. Chop asparagus and scallions into bite-sized pieces, and set aside. Preheat oven to 350F, or use a covered grill at same temperature. Whisk together eggs, salt, pepper, Grilled Red Pepper Romesco Sauce, 2 tablespoons mushroom-soaking water and about half cheese until combined. Pour oil into an 8×10-inch ovenproof skillet, preferably nonstick, and heat over medium heat. Stir in mushrooms, asparagus and scallions, and warm through. Pat mixture down evenly in skillet. Pour egg mixture evenly into skillet. Continue heating until bottom is lightly set, for about 3 minutes more, lifting edges and tilting skillet to allow uncooked egg to flow to bottom. Scatter remaining cheese over Frittata. Cover, and transfer skillet to oven. Bake until Frittata is set to desired firmness, for 10 to 12 minutes. Slice into wedges, and serve hot, at room temperature or chilled.

ASPARAGUS AND MOREL RISOTTO

Steps:

• Place chicken stock in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a simmer.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until butter starts to bubble. Add asparagus and morel mushrooms; saute until tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate with any accumulated juices.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in the same saucepan. Add shallot; cook and stir until softened, about 1 minute. Stir in arborio rice and cook until it starts to toast, about 1 minute. Pour in wine and cook until evaporated. Stir in thyme.
• Pour 1/4 cup of the simmering stock over the rice. Cook, stirring constantly, until stock is absorbed. Repeat with remaining stock until rice is tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Stir in asparagus and mushrooms with their juices and continue until flavors combine, about 3 minutes more.
• Remove rice from the heat. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and parsley. Season with salt and black pepper. Garnish with balsamic vinegar and additional olive oil before serving.

SPRING FRITTATA

Steps:

• In small bowl, combine leek and asparagus. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss to coat. , Transfer to a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to 350°., Place mushrooms on the bottom of a 9-in. deep-dish pie plate coated with cooking spray. Top with roasted vegetables and cheese. In a large bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients; pour over cheese., Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes. Cut into wedges.

ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOM FRITTATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Melt butter in an oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Stir in olive oil and asparagus, and cook until the asparagus is tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms, and continue cooking about 5 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, water, and thyme. Pour into the skillet, and reduce heat to low. Cover, and cook 5 minutes.
• Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Bake 10 to 15 minutes, until eggs are no longer runny. Top the mixture with Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese. Turn on the broiler, and broil until cheeses are melted and lightly browned.

SARAH MCLACHLAN'S ASPARAGUS FRITTATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).
• Remove the tough ends of the asparagus and discard; blanch or steam asparagus for 5 minutes, or until bright green and tender; rinse under cold water and drain thoroughly.
• Beat eggs and milk together; season with nutmeg, salt and pepper; set aside.
• In a ovenproof skillet, preferably cast iron, saute onion in oil until translucent, then add mushrooms and saute until golden brown.
• Add spinach and cook until completely wilted.
• Add chopped tomatoes.
• Pour egg mixture into skillet; stir briefly.
• Sprinkle mozzarella on top, decorate with asparagus and basil and bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
• Serves 4 generously.

SAUTé OF WHITE ASPARAGUS, MORELS, AND RAMPS OVER POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
• Snap off the ends of the asparagus (they will break naturally where their toughness begins), and peel the stalks.
• Clean the ramps and prepare the ramps according to the method described on page 33.
• Blanch the asparagus in heavily salted boiling water about 5 minutes, until tender. To test for doneness, take a spear out of the water, cut a small piece off the end, and taste it. (Remember, the spears will continue to cook a little as they cool.) Carefully remove the asparagus to a baking sheet to cool.
• If the morels are large, cut them in half.
• Heat a large sauté pan over high heat for 2 minutes. (If you don't have a pan that's large enough to hold all of the vegetables, heat two pans and divide ingredients accordingly.) Add 4 tablespoons butter to the pan, and when it foams, scatter the morels into the pan, being careful not to overcrowd them. Sauté the mushrooms 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often. Turn down the heat to medium, and add the thyme, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and a few grindings of pepper. Let the mushrooms cook another 6 to 8 minutes. They should be crispy on the outside, yet still tender. (The amount of cooking time really depends on the mushrooms; sometimes they give off water, which will require a longer cooking time, to allow the water to evaporate and the morels to crisp.)
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the mushrooms, and place the blanched asparagus carefully in the pan. Toss to coat the asparagus in all the mushroomy brown butter, and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add the ramps to the pan, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and cook another 2 minutes, tossing often so all the flavors meld and everything is coated in the butter. Taste for seasoning.
• Spoon the polenta onto a large warm platter. Using tongs, arrange the asparagus and ramps, randomly overlapping them over the polenta. Spoon the morels and all the butter over the top, and scatter the parsley over everything.
• In a heavy-bottomed pot, bring 5 1/2 cups water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil over high heat. Add the polenta slowly, whisking continuously. Turn the heat down to low, and continue cooking for another 20 minutes, whisking often. Add another 1/2 cup water and cook 1 more hour, whisking often and adding 1/2 cup water as needed, about every 20 minutes. The flame should be low, so that the polenta is barely simmering. As you whisk, make sure that you reach the bottom of the pan to prevent the polenta from scorching. I like to use a rubber spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the pot.
• Whisk in the butter, and taste for seasoning. Even when the polenta is finished, you might sense it thickening up a little. If so, add a little more water and whisk to get the right consistency. If you're not serving right away, cover the pan with plastic wrap to keep the polenta from thickening or losing moisture. If necessary, rewarm over low heat before serving.
• You can blanch the asparagus and ramps a few hours ahead.

ASPARAGUS-MUSHROOM FRITTATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, ricotta cheese, lemon juice, salt and pepper. In a 10-in. ovenproof skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add asparagus, onion, red pepper and mushrooms; cook and stir 6-8 minutes or until onion and pepper are tender., Remove from heat; remove asparagus from skillet. Reserve eight spears; cut remaining asparagus into 2-in. pieces. Return cut asparagus to skillet; stir in egg mixture. Arrange reserved asparagus spears over eggs to resemble spokes of a wheel., Bake, uncovered, 20-25 minutes or until eggs are completely set. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut into wedges.

ASPARAGUS FRITTATA WITH CREME FRAICHE AND CHIVES

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Whisk eggs, 1/4 cup chives, parsley, Parmesan cheese, half and half, salt and pepper in larg bowl until just blended. Melt butter and oil in heavy nonstick 10-inch diameter omelette pan over medium heat. Add asparagus and onion and sauté until asparagus is crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Pour egg mixtre over asparagus . Reduce heat to low; cook until edges are just set, about 3 minutes. Using heat-proof spatula, lift cooked edges of egg mixture and tilt pan so uncooked eggs run beneath. Continue cooking until egg mixture is nearly set on top, about 5 minutes. Broil until just puffed and lightly golden on top, about 2 minutes.
• Slide spatula under frittata to loosen. Slide out onto cutting board. Cut frittata into 1-inch squares (can be made 2 hours ahead of time. Let stand at room temperature).
• Arrange squares on serving platter. Spoon dollop of creme fraiche atop each square. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup chives and serve.

MINTED ASPARAGUS FRITTATA

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Whisk first 5 ingredients and 2 tablespoons Parmesan in medium bowl to blend. Heat oil in medium nonstick broilerproof skillet over medium heat. Add asparagus and toss to coat. Cover skillet; cook until asparagus is crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Add onions; stir 30 seconds. Stir in egg mixture. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook until almost set on top, about 8 minutes.
• Sprinkle frittata with remaining 1 tablespoon Parmesan. Broil until top is set and starts to brown, about 2 minutes. Slide spatula around frittata to loosen; slide out onto plate and serve.