Walnutrisottowithroastedasparagus Recipes

BAKED ASPARAGUS WITH TOASTED WALNUTS

Steps:

• To cook asparagus: Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Break off woody stems of asparagus.
• If stalks are thick, peel with a vegetable peeler, pulling from stem end toward tip.
• (Pencil-thin spears do no need peeling.) Place in a greased or sprayed 9x13 inch glass baking dish.
• Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
• Dot with margarine.
• Cover with foil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until tender but still crisp.
• (Asparagus may be baked 1 day ahead and reheated in microwave.) To make topping: In a small bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• (Topping may be refrigerated overnight. Bring to room temperature before using.)
• Before serving: Spoon topping over asparagus and sprinkle with walnuts.

WALNUT RISOTTO WITH ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Bring broth to simmer in medium saucepan. Cover and remove from heat. Heat 1-1/2 teaspoons olive oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until light golden, about 4 minutes. Add rice and stir 1 minute. Add wine and stir until wine evaporates, about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup hot broth and cook until liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently. Continue adding more broth, 1/2 cupful at a time, until rice is tender and creamy, stirring frequently and allowing most of broth to be absorbed before adding more, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place asparagus and garlic in shallow baking dish. Drizzle remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil over. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat with oil. Bake asparagus until tender, turning occasionally, about 16 minutes.
• Mix walnuts and grated Parmesan into risotto. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange roasted asparagus in center of 4 plates. Top with risotto.

PASTA WITH MUSHROOMS, WALNUTS, ASPARAGUS AND APPLES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season generously with salt. Add the pasta and cook 1 to 2 minutes less than the package instructions so it still has a bite to it (al dente). Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the walnuts and cook, stirring continuously, until toasted, about 1 minute; take care not to burn them. Transfer the walnuts to a dish and reserve. Wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel if needed.
• Heat the oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms and cook until browned, about 8 minutes. Stir in the flour and apples and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Add the vegetable stock, wine, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and bring to a simmer. Add the asparagus and cook until tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in the drained pasta and toss to coat. Add a tablespoon or two of the pasta water if it starts to get dry, or more as needed. Add the walnuts and parsley. Serve immediately, sprinkled with nutritional yeast if desired.

ASPARAGUS WITH WALNUTS

Steps:

• 1. Fill a large bowl halfway with ice cubes and add some cold water. Place a colander squarely inside the ice bath. The colander will keep you from having to pick the asparagus out from amongst the ice cubes in the ice bath.
• 2. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Add the asparagus and cook for 1 to 1½ minutes. You want them to be crunchy. If the asparagus are thicker, cook for 1½ to 2 minutes.
• 3. Remove the asparagus from the water using a slotted spoon and transfer them to the colander inside the ice bath. Move them around gently so the ice water penetrates the asparagus and accelerates the cooling process. Vegetables take longer than you think to cool so allow them to sit a few minutes in the ice water. Hold a piece of the asparagus in your hand for a few seconds to assure that it's really cool (even in the center). If the piece still feels warm, allow them to cool longer in the ice bath. Place them on a kitchen towel to drain any excess moisture.
• 4. Heat oil a medium skillet until hot (but not smoking), add the walnuts and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. They should bubble and fry slightly in the oil. When you can smell the walnuts, add the paprika and cayenne and lower the heat to medium. Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, and transfer the mixture to a bowl. Set aside.
• 5. Toss the asparagus in the bowl with the walnuts and the oil. Let this mixture sit in the refrigerator for a few hours or a few minutes. When ready to serve, stir in the lemon juice. Serve immediately.

SKILLET ASPARAGUS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Melt 1/2 of the ghee in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion; spread out into a thin layer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and beginning to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat if it's browning too quickly; do not allow to burn. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in vinegar.
• Transfer onion-garlic mixture to a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Wipe out skillet and melt the remaining ghee over medium-low heat. Add walnut pieces and stir until crisp and lightly toasted, about 3 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
• Add asparagus to the same skillet and increase heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring frequently, until bright green, tender, but still crunchy, 10 to 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Plate asparagus, add onion mixture, and garnish with walnuts.

ORZO RISOTTO WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F Coat a large baking pan with cooking spray. Place squash pieces inside. Season lightly. Cover and bake for 10 minutes.
• Take squash out of the oven and add mushrooms, onion, rosemary, oil and assorted spices. Toss together. Roast in oven, uncovered for 15 - 20 minutes, until vegetables are tender and lightly browned, stirring once or twice.
• Meanwhile, bring broth to a boil. Cover and keep simmering. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add orzo and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes until orzo is lightly browned, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
• Add 1/2 cup of the broth to the orzo. Return to heat and stir frequently until broth is absorbed. Continue adding broth to the orzo, 1/2 cup at a time, with orzo absorbing the broth before adding more. Cook and stir until orzo is tender and creamy, about 15 minutes.
• Add vegetables and walnuts to orzo and gently stir together. Sprinkle each serving with feta cheese.