Ingredients

2 pounds beets
1 fresh bay leaf
4 spears asparagus, cut into 1-inch spears
1 orange, segmented, juices reserved
1 small red onion, half moons
1 pound thick-cut bacon, cut into ¼ inch lardon (optional)
8 ounces baby arugula
½ teaspoon spring garlic, minced
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 sprigs thyme

Directions

In a stock pot, place beets, bay leaf and one sprig thyme. Cover with water by at least 1 inch. Bring to a simmer and cook until tender and the beets can slide easily off a knife. Once finished, cool just enough to touch and peel skins off. Cut into ½ inch cubes.

Fill a sauté pan with water, about halfway, bring water up to a simmer, season with a pinch of salt and add the asparagus. Blanch for about one minute, until tender, but with a little “snap” left in the center. Remove asparagus and place into an ice bath (shock).

To make the vinaigrette, take a small bowl, add garlic, reserved orange juice, extra virgin olive oil and 1 sprig of thyme (leaves only). Season to taste and whisk together.

In a medium salad bowl, toss together beets, onions, and asparagus with some of the vinaigrette. Add in baby arugula and the orange segments. Toss together gently, season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

If using bacon, you can do this step instead of blanching. Bring a sauté pan up to a medium heat and add the bacon. Render bacon until crispy. Remove bacon and reserve. Using only some of the bacon fat left in the pan, add the asparagus and roast until tender.

Recipe Property of Brendan McDermott

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped small
1 medium shallot, chopped small
1 cup mixed fresh wild mushrooms (morels, chanterelles, etc)
Pinch of freshly ground nutmeg
1 cup asparagus spears, ends trimmed
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ cup white wine
¼ cup vegetable stock
1 cup brown rice, cooked
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lemon thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped

Directions

In a large skillet over medium high heat, add butter and olive oil. Cook the onions and shallots for a few minutes or until slightly translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms, nutmeg, and asparagus and season with salt and pepper. Add the wine and vegetable stock, bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the liquid is reduced by half then stir in the cooked brown rice. Fluff mixture with a fork and sprinkle herbs into pilaf. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 medium shallot, chopped
2 cups asparagus stems
1 tablespoon fresh lemon thyme leaves
4 cups vegetable broth (preferably onion-herb or neutral based)
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ cup heavy cream
Salt
Black pepper

Directions

In a large skillet, over medium high heat, add butter. Cook the onions and shallots for a few minutes or until slightly translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the asparagus and sauté a few minutes. Add the lemon thyme and sauté until the asparagus is soft. Add the vegetable stock, lemon zest, and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Using an immersion blender, puree into a smooth soup. Slowly blend in the heavy cream. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

Ingredients

1 pound (about 30-40 medium spears) fresh green asparagus, ends trimmed
1 teaspoons lemon zest, plus 2 teaspoons extra
Salt
¼ cup butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped superfine
1 teaspoon lime zest
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 teaspoon coarse salt
Maldon salt

Directions

Bring 2 inches of water in a large skillet to a rapid boil. Toss in 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and a pinch of salt. Toss in asparagus making sure they are fully submerged in the water. Cook the asparagus for about 2-3 minutes or until bright green and just tender. Remove asparagus from the pan and immediately submerge in a big bath of ice water. Plunge the asparagus in the ice water until the asparagus is no longer hot but warm or tepid. In a small sauce pan heat the butter, olive oil, garlic, zest and coarse salt until just melted. Drizzle on asparagus and finish with a pinch of Maldon salt.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons citrus champagne vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt
2 bunches (about 12 pieces per) asparagus, ends trimmed
1 cup white Japanese-style breadcrumbs (Panko)

Directions

Preaheat oven to 450°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, mustard, cayenne and salt. Place the trimmed asparagus in a shallow baking dish and pour the lemon mixture over, making sure to cover the asparagus completely. In a second shallow baking dish, add the breadcrumbs until evenly distribute at the bottom. Taking one spear at a time, roll the asparagus in the breadcrumbs until evenly coated, then place on a lined baking sheet. When all the spears are coated, place the baking sheets in the oven and bake until the breadcrumbs are browned and the asparagus are tender, about 20 minutes.

Citrus Aioli

Makes approximately ½ cup

Ingredients

3 cloves garlic
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon lime zest
1 large egg yolk
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
Coarse sea salt
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoon canola oil
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Place garlic, lemon juice and zest, lime zest, egg yolk and Dijon in a blender and puree. Season with salt. Slowly stream in oils until creamy and everything is emulsified.

INGREDIENTS

1 bunch asparagus, sliced at an angle
1 bunch arugula or rocolla (about 2-3 cups) chopped
½ cup parmesan, grated finely
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
Ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

In a large mixing bowl, combine the asparagus, arugula and parmesan, and mix well. Drizzle the olive oil and lemon juice over the top, and combine well. Season with salt and pepper, and mix again.

Ingredients

Directions

Bring 2 inches of water in a large skillet to a rapid boil. Toss in 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and a pinch of salt. Toss in asparagus making sure they are fully submerged in the water. Cook the asparagus for about 2-3 minutes or until bright green and just tender. Remove asparagus from the pan and immediately submerge in a big bath of ice water. Plunge the asparagus in the ice water until the asparagus is no longer hot but warm or tepid. Place the asparagus on a flat plate and drizzle with olive oil and garlic. In a small mixing bowl combine the zest and the maldon salt and mix well. Sprinkle desired amount on the asparagus and let it sit for about 3-4 minutes before serving.

INGREDIENTS

For spring vegetable minestrone

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped small
3 cloves garlic, chopped fine
6 cups vegetable stock
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped fine
3 carrots, chopped medium
3 celery ribs, chopped medium
5 asparagus stalks, trimmed and cut into ½-inch pieces
1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into ½-inch pieces
1 cup fresh English peas
1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, rined
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
2 cups arugula leaves, chopped

For the herb pesto

1 cup fresh parsley leaves
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

DIRECTIONS

For the soup

In a large soup pot over medium heat, add olive oil. Cook onions until soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add vegetable stock, carrots, celery, asparagus and green beans. Season with salt. Increase heat to a simmer and cook until vegetables are almost soft, about 20 minutes. Add peas, beans, and tomatoes and cook 10 minutes more. Add arugula and cook just until wilted. Serve soup drizzled with herb pesto.

For the herb pesto

Place all ingredients, except olive oil, in blender. Stream in olive oil while blending and combine.