Sautéed Asparagus with Pancetta
Paired with buttery leeks and delicate pine nuts, tender-crisp asparagus is topped with Italian pancetta for extra wow.
Ingredients:
1 pound asparagus, trimmed and sliced into 2-inch pieces
4 ounces pancetta, diced
1 tablespoon butter
1 ¼ cup leek, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon orange zest
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large non-stick pan, sauté pancetta, stirring frequently, over medium heat, until crisp and lightly golden.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to pan. Add asparagus pieces and leek and sauté until asparagus is tender crisp, about 3-4 minutes.
3. Add garlic, lemon and orange zest, toasted pine nuts and parsley and sauté for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Season to taste with freshly ground pepper and salt and serve immediately.
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Roasted Asparagus with Fried Duck Eggs
This easy sheet pan dish is topped with bright lemon juice.
Ingredients:
1½ pounds asparagus, trimmed of tough stems
3 duck eggs
Juice of ½ lemon
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Cut the asparagus into 2-inch pieces. Put the oven rack in the center of the oven, about 5 inches below the heat source, and preheat the broiler.
2. Film the bottom of a large sauté pan with olive oil. Place the asparagus in the pan and season with salt and pepper, tossing to coat asparagus in oil. Spread out evenly and pop the pan in the oven under the broiler, cooking about 3 minutes or until the asparagus just starts to brown.
3. Being careful not to touch the pan’s handle, use the spatula to push the asparagus to the edges of the pan, leaving the center empty. Carefully break the eggs into that space. Broil 1 more minute, until egg whites are set. Remove the pan from the oven.
4. Squeeze the lemon juice over everything in the pan and give the pan another sprinkle of salt. To serve, top a generous helping of asparagus with a duck egg and serve with a side of toasted bread to sop up the excess yolk.
Variation: This dish is also lovely topped with a pat of fresh spring herb butter. To prepare combine, ¼ cup room temperature butter with 2 tablespoons of mixed, chopped herbs and a sprinkle of sea salt. Refrigerate until ready to use.
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Spring Risotto with Wild Mushrooms, Asparagus & Herbs
Earthy mushrooms, tender asparagus, and creamy Arborio rice come together in this elegant spring risotto—rich, comforting, and brightened with fresh herbs and lemon.
Ingredients:
1½ cups Arborio rice
4 cups chicken stock
½ cup white wine (optional)
½ finely chopped onion or shallot
1–2 tablespoons chopped garlic (optional)
8 tablespoons butter or olive oil (or a mixture)
¼ cup grated Grana cheese
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 cups mixed wild mushrooms, washed, trimmed as needed, and sautéed in butter until golden brown
1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 teaspoon lemon zest
Pea shoots, for garnish
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Method:
1. Prep your components: In a saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer to keep warm. Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch asparagus for 1–2 minutes until bright green and just tender. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, melt 4–5 tablespoons butter. Add onion and cook until soft but not browned. Stir in garlic and cook for another minute. Add Arborio rice and stir for about 1 minute until lightly translucent at the edges. Add a ladleful of warm stock and stir until nearly absorbed. Continue adding stock gradually, stirring frequently. Add the wine along with one of the ladles of stock, if using. Continue cooking until the rice is creamy and tender, about 20–25 minutes total.
3. To finish, stir in remaining butter, Grana cheese, parsley, asparagus, lemon zest, and most of the sautéed mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon into bowls and top with the remaining mushrooms, extra cheese, and a tangle of fresh pea shoots.
Variation: Try topping each individual portion of risotto with a fried duck egg for a truly decadent finish!
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Asparagus with Salt and Pepper Whipped Cream
Topped with decadent cream, this simple side dish is just delicious.
Topped with decadent cream, this simple side dish is just delicious.
Ingredients:
1½-2 pounds asparagus, trimmed and peeled
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 250º. Cook the asparagus in boiling, salted water, or steam, until just tender. Place the drained asparagus in a shallow serving dish, and keep it warm in the oven.
2. In a small saucepan, heat the butter with ¼ cup heavy cream over low heat. Stir and pour over the asparagus; return the asparagus to the oven.
3. Beat the remaining ¾ cup cream with the salt and pepper until soft peaks form. Spoon over the hot asparagus. Serve immediately.
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Grilled Asparagus with Lemon Vinaigrette
A fresh blend of lemon juice, olive oil and garlic adds big flavor to grilled asparagus stalks.
Ingredients:
2 pounds asparagus, trimmed
1 garlic clove, minced
Juice of 1 Meyer lemon, plus 2 teaspoons lemon zest
½ cup olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, and garlic. Check for seasoning and add salt and pepper, as needed. Set aside.
2. Set a grill cooking grate or basket in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. While the grill is preheating, place asparagus in a large bowl and toss with the tablespoon of olive oil, coating evenly. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Add asparagus to grill and cook, turning occasionally, until well charred and tender, about 6 minutes total depending on the thickness of the stalks. Transfer asparagus to a serving platter and drizzle the vinaigrette over the top. Serve immediately.
Variation: Make it a meal by adding flaked smoked salmon and a fried duck egg to each portion of asparagus!
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Roasted Asparagus with Taleggio Cheese & Walnut Sauce
Topped with melted Taleggio cheese and flavorful walnut sauce, this asparagus recipe will have them coming back for seconds.
Ingredients:
1 pound asparagus stalks
2 tablespoons olive oil
Thinly-sliced Taleggio cheese
¼-½ cup F&L walnut sauce
¼ cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Spread out the asparagus stalks in a large sheet pan and drizzle with the olive oil, seasoning well with salt and pepper. Roast the asparagus until tender, about 8-10 minutes, then remove from the oven.
2. While the asparagus is still hot, top the stalks with the slices of Taleggio and then place under the oven broiler to melt the cheese, about 1-2 minutes.
3. Remove from the oven and transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle the asparagus with the walnut sauce and top with chopped walnuts. Serve immediately.
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Asparagus with Salt & Pepper Whipped Cream
Topped with decadent cream, this simple side dish is just delicious.
Ingredients:
1½-2 pounds asparagus, trimmed and peeled
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 250º. Cook the asparagus in boiling, salted water, or steam, until just tender. Place the drained asparagus in a shallow serving dish, and keep it warm in the oven.
2. In a small saucepan, heat the butter with ¼ cup heavy cream over low heat. Stir and pour over the asparagus; return the asparagus to the oven.
3. Beat the remaining ¾ cup cream with the salt and pepper until soft peaks form. Spoon over the hot asparagus. Serve immediately.
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Pancetta, Radicchio & Soft Egg Toasts
Rustic and satisfying, these toasts layer crisp pancetta, tender radicchio, and a jammy egg over crusty bread—simple, savory, and perfect any time of day.
Ingredients:
4 slices Pain au Levain bread
3–4 ounces pancetta, diced
1 small head radicchio, sliced into ribbons
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 eggs
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Shaved Parmesan or Pecorino
Drizzle of olive oil or balsamic
Method:
1. Toast slices of bread until golden and crisp. Set aside.
2. In a skillet over medium heat, cook pancetta until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. In the same pan, add olive oil if needed. Add radicchio and cook for 2–3 minutes until slightly wilted but still vibrant. Season with salt and pepper.
3. In a separate pan, cook eggs to your liking—soft yolks (fried or poached) work best here.
4. Layer sautéed radicchio onto each slice of toast, followed by pancetta. Top with an egg. Sprinkle with fresh herbs, cheese if using, and a drizzle of olive oil or balsamic.
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Asparagus & Pea Risotto with Mint
One of two risotto ideas this week, this recipe is bright with asparagus, peas and mint.
Ingredients:
1 bunch asparagus stalks, cut into 1-inch pieces
2-3 cups freshly-shelled English peas
8 tablespoons butter
1½ cups Arborio rice
4-5 cups warm chicken stock
½ cup white wine (if desired)
½ shallot, finely chopped
1-2 tablespoons chopped garlic (if desired)
⅔ cup freshly-grated Grana-style cheese
2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, minced
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil, then drop in asparagus and quickly blanch for about 2 minutes until asparagus pieces are bright green and just tender (you want them to still have a little bite, so watch closely.) Remove from pot, and place in an ice bath to stop cooking. Pat dry and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, in a sauce pan, bring the chicken stock to a boil and then turn down to a simmer to keep hot. In another large sauce pan over medium low heat, melt 4-5 tablespoons of butter and cook the shallots until soft but not brown.
3. Add garlic and continue cooking for about 2 minutes. Turn the heat up and add the Arborio rice. Stir for about one minute.
4. Add a ladleful of stock to the rice and continue stirring until almost absorbed. Add another ladleful of stock and the wine and continue stirring; repeat until all the stock is gone and the rice is creamy and tender.
5. Stir in the remaining butter and season with salt and pepper to taste. Then add the peas and asparagus to the pan. Allow to heat through, then add the cheese and mint. Stir to combine and serve immediately.
Variation: This risotto is also lovely topped with an olive-oil fried egg.
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Grilled Asparagus with Classic Gremolata
This healthy, easy dish is a classic way to serve asparagus in the Italian region of Lombardy—and it only takes a few minutes to put together.
Ingredients:
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
¼ cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 teaspoons finely chopped lemon zest
2 pounds asparagus, trimmed
Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Method:
1. To make the gremolata, finely chop the garlic, parsley and lemon zest together on a cutting board until well combined. Transfer to a bowl. (You can prepare the gremolata an hour or two before you cook the asparagus.)
2. Steam or boil the asparagus in salted water until tender, four to five minutes. Remove from the heat, and toss with the gremolata. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix together the lemon juice and olive oil, and drizzle over the asparagus. Serve hot or warm.
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