Wok Fried Asparagus With Walnuts Recipes

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.

SIMPLE SPICY ASPARAGUS IN A WOK

Steps:

• Snap off and discard bottoms of asparagus, then cut into 2-inch pieces (halve thicker pieces lengthwise first).
• Set wok over high heat and add vegetable oil. Add dried peppers and let sizzle, then add asparagus, tossing well to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Stir-fry for a minute or so, then add chile paste, garlic, ginger, orange zest and jalapeño. Continue cooking over high heat for a minute, maybe less, until asparagus is cooked but still firm and bright green. (It will continue cooking off the heat.)
• Mound asparagus on a serving platter and drizzle with sesame oil. Sprinkle cilantro, green onion and sesame seeds over the top.

STIR FRIED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onions until tender. Stir in asparagus and garlic; saute for 3 to 5 minutes, or until slightly cooked and heated through.
• Drizzle with teriyaki sauce and serve immediately.