Sunny Asparagus Tapenade Recipes

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.

SUNNY'S BEER BATTERED MOROCCAN ASPARAGUS WITH DIP

Steps:

• Add 1 cup of the flour to each baking dish. Set one aside for your dredging station. In the other add the spice blend, lemon zest and a nice pinch of salt, and whisk. Slowly stir in the beer until the batter thickens to a pancake consistency. If there is a sip of beer leftover, don't waste it, drink it! Rest the batter for 5 minutes.
• Fill a large pot 3- to 4-inches deep with oil and heat until a deep-fry thermometer reaches 350 degrees F. To fry, first dredge the asparagus in the flour, then shake off lightly and run through the batter. Immediately and gently lower the asparagus into the oil. Fry until the batter is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Cook in batches to avoid overloading the pot, which reduces the overall temperature of the oil. Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt. Repeat for the remaining asparagus. Serve warm with the chilled Moroccan Spice Dip.
• In a medium bowl stir together the mayonnaise, onion pulp, parsley, sour cream, lemon juice and spice blend. Taste the dip and season with a pinch of salt, if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

SUNNY ASPARAGUS TAPENADE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring 1/2 in. of water to a boil. Add asparagus; cover and cook for 3-5 minutes or until tender. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water. Drain and pat dry., Place in a food processor; add the parsley, sunflower kernels, lemon juice, orange juice, oil, syrup, garlic, salt, pepper flakes and pepper. Cover and process until desired consistency., Transfer to a small bowl; sprinkle with additional sunflower kernels if desired. Serve at room temperature or chilled with the dippers of your choice.

ASPARAGUS TAPENADE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring 1/2 inches of water to a boil. Add asparagus; cover and cook for 3-5 minutes or until tender. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water. Drain and pat dry.
• Place in a food processor; add the parsley, sunflower kernels, lemon juice, orange juice, oil, syrup, garlic, salt, pepper flakes and pepper. Cover and process until desired consistency.
• Transfer to a small bowl; sprinkle with additional sunflower kernels if desired. Serve at room temperature or chilled with the dippers of your choice.

TATER AND ASPARAGUS TOSS

Steps:

• In a saute pan over medium-high heat, add the bacon and cook until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to a plate. Add the butter to the remaining bacon fat and add the potato slices. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Saute until crisp on one side, and then toss and cook on the other side until crispy. Add the onions, garlic, scallions and asparagus. Season again gently with salt. Continuously toss until the asparagus are bright green and tender, but still crunchy, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle the lemon juice and zest over top. Toss in the reserved bacon and serve warm.

5-MINUTE OLIVE TAPENADE

Steps:

• Combine green olives, Kalamata olives, capers, olive oil, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, salt, oregano, and pepper in a food processor. Pulse 5 to 10 times until all ingredients are chopped and well combined.

SUNDRIED TOMATO TAPENADE

Steps:

• Stir balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl; fold in sun-dried tomatoes, Kalamata olives, green olives, and garlic. Season with black pepper. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for flavors to blend, at least 2 hours to overnight.
• Arrange cream cheese halves on 2 serving dishes; spoon tapenade over cream cheese.

TAPENADE

Steps:

• Press the garlic into the lemon juice or if you don't have a garlic press, mince and put it into the lemon juice, while you prepare the other items.
• Put the rest of the ingredients into a food processor and process into a finely chopped paste.
• Put in a bowl and mix in the garlic, lemon juice and olive oil well.
• Serve with bread slices.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO TAPENADE ON POLENTA TRIANGLES

Steps:

• For Tapenade:
• Combine all ingredients in processor. Using on/of turns, process until finely chopped. Transfer to small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• For Polenta:
• Combine whipping cream, water and salt in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to boil. Gradually whisk in cornmeal. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir until polenta is thick, about 10 minutes. Mix in hot sauce. Season with pepper. Pour into 8-inch square glass baking dish. Chill until cold, about 1 hour. (Tapenade and polenta can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately and chill.)
• Cut polenta into 12 squares. Cut each square in half diagonally, forming 24 triangles. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over high heat. Working in batches, add polenta triangles and sauté until golden, adding remaining 2 tablespoons oil as necessary, about 2 minutes per side for each batch. Transfer polenta to paper towels; drain.
• Divide tapenade among triangles. Arrange on platter. Garnish with parsley. Serve at room temperature.

TAPENADE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy large skillet over low heat. Add onions, sauté until dark brown, occasionally scraping up brown bits, about 30 minutes Transfer onions to processor. Add tomatoes and olive. Using on/off turns, process until chunky paste forms (do not puree). Season with pepper. Cool. (Can be made one week ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature before using.)