Warm Asparagus And Herb Mousses Recipes

ASPARAGUS WITH CHEESE SAUCE AND HERB BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a small skillet over medium-high. Add panko, crushed red pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon of the salt. Cook, stirring often, until toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in parsley and tarragon; set aside.
• Preheat oven to high broil with rack in middle position. Place asparagus on a rimmed baking sheet, and drizzle with olive oil; toss to coat. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, and broil until asparagus is tender-crisp, about 5 minutes (do not stir).
• While asparagus broils, place heavy cream in a small skillet. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium, stirring occasionally. Add Parmigiano-Reggiano 1/4 cup at a time, stirring until completely melted and smooth after each addition.
• Arrange broiled asparagus on a platter. Spoon cheese sauce over asparagus, and sprinkle with panko mixture and lemon zest.

MUSTARD-AND-HERB-CRUSTED SALMON WITH WARM ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Bring 8 cups of salted water to a boil in a covered large saute pan. Fill a large bowl with ice water and set a mesh strainer on top of the ice.
• Pulse the panko, parsley, the leaves from 1 sprig fresh tarragon and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a mini food processor until the herbs are coarsely chopped. Drizzle in 1 tablespoon of the oil and pulse until the mixture is combined. Transfer to a plate.
• Combine the brown sugar, mustard, 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice and remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a small bowl. Brush the tops and sides of the salmon generously with the mustard mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Press a salmon fillet, top-side down, into the panko mixture. Place, panko-side up, on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining fillets and bake until the panko is toasted and the salmon is just cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the asparagus and peas in the saute pan of boiling water and cook until almost crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to the prepared ice bath with a slotted spoon and let cool, about 1 minute.
• Meanwhile, heat a second large saute pan over medium-high heat and add the butter, swirling, until melted. Drain the cooled vegetables and add to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the radishes, the remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 2 tablespoons tarragon. Toss to combine, taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve the salmon with the asparagus salad and a lemon wedge.

GARDEN PEA & ASPARAGUS MOUSSE

Steps:

• Brush 6 dariole moulds (100 ml/ 31⁄2 fl oz capacity) with mild olive oil and line the bases with discs of baking paper. Shell the peas and trim away and discard the cut end of the asparagus. Chop the asparagus into short lengths and put in a steamer with the peas. Steam for 3-5 minutes until the asparagus and peas are just tender but still bright green. Put 6 tbsp of steamed peas into a small bowl, spoon over the 1 tbsp olive oil and set aside.
• Put the asparagus and the rest of the cooked peas in a food processor and whizz to a purée. Soften the gelatine in the wine or lemon juice in a small pan for 5 minutes, then put over a low heat until the gelatine is dissolved, stirring occasionally.
• Whisk the cream with the tarragon until it is thick but still glossy. Stir the gelatine into the purée and fold in the cream with plenty of salt and pepper. Divide the mixture between the moulds so they are three quarters full, then put in the fridge for 2-3 hours or until set.
• When ready to serve, run the blade of a small knife around the rim of the mousse and turn out each one on a small plate. Sprinkle the reserved peas around the base of each mousse and lay a tarragon sprig on top of each one. Drizzle a little more olive oil and a few dashes of balsamic vinegar over the peas. Serve straight away while still chilled.

ASPARAGUS WITH PARMESAN MOUSSE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 225°C.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a saucepan, continually stirring. Then add the flour and mix well to make a roux.
• At the same time, bring the milk and pouring cream to the boil. Then add it to the flour mix and whisk well until the mixture is smooth.
• Whisk the egg, egg yolks and thickened cream. Then add them to the hot mixture and stir well.
• Add the parmesan and seasonings, and whisk well.
• Lightly brush 4 dariole moulds with melted butter and pour in the mixture. Place in an oven tray and fill 2/3 up the sides of the moulds with boiling water. Then cover the moulds with foil and cook in the oven for about 40-45 mins until a knife comes out clean.
• Blanch the asparagus in lightly salted boiling water until crisp-tender. Drain and serve alongside the turned out mousses.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS WITH HERB SAUCE

Steps:

• Wash the asparagus carefully and gently scrape them to remove all trace of soil. Tie together, according to size, with string. Put the asparagus into two inches of boiling, salted water. Cook, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes, according to size; the asparagus should remain al dente. Drain and put into cold water briefly to cool rapidly and to maintain color. Drain on paper towels, then place on a round platter, tips toward the center.
• Prepare a sauce with the remaining ingredients. Place all the herbs except for the additional watercress in a blender, add the salt and pepper, and blend for a second. Add the lemon juice and then the oil in a trickle to the blender on low speed. Pour the sauce over the cooled asparagus. Garnish with the reserved watercress. Serve at room temperature.

ASPARAGUS MOUSSE WITH HAM & RED ONION SALAD

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a heavy-based pan. Once it's foaming, add the asparagus and cook for 4-5 mins until soft but not coloured. Remove from the pan and drain well on kitchen paper. Rinse out the pan and pour in the cream, milk and garlic. Bring to the boil, simmer until reduced to 350ml - check by pouring into a measuring jug - then add the asparagus and boil for a few secs. Remove from the heat.
• Blend the mixture in a liquidiser along with the spinach leaves, then sieve into a clean bowl. Add the soaked gelatine and stir until dissolved. Sieve again and allow to cool for a few mins in the fridge, but do not let it set.
• Beat the egg white to soft peaks, then carefully fold into the asparagus mix and season. Divide the mousse between 4 glasses or ramekins and leave them to set in the fridge.
• To make the ham salad, mix all the ingredients, apart from the watercress, in a small bowl and season. When the mousse is set, remove each glass from the fridge, place some watercress leaves on top of the mousse, spoon on the diced ham salad and drizzle with a little olive oil.

BUTTER-BRAISED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Snap off and discard the tough bottoms of the asparagus spears. If using large, thick asparagus, peel the lower ends with a vegetable peeler.
• Put butter in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus in one layer and season with salt and pepper. Add 1/2 cup water, cover, and bring to a simmer. Cook until the asparagus is firm-tender, about 3 minutes. Take care not to overcook them; they should still be bright green. (They will continue to cook a bit once the heat is off.) Remove the asparagus from the pan and place on a serving platter.
• Turn heat to high and simmer briskly until most of the liquid has evaporated, a minute or so. Add lemon juice and zest to the buttery juices. Turn off heat and stir in chives, parsley, tarragon and dill, if using. Check seasoning. Spoon the sauce over the asparagus, garnish with a few herb leaves, and serve.