Best Asparagus With Toasted Sesame Aioli Recipes

SESAME ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Trim tough ends from asparagus spears. Set spears aside.
• Heat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet for about 2 minutes over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon peanut oil and half of the asparagus in a single layer.
• Cook for 3 to 4 minutes without turning. Shake pan occasionally. Turn, and cook 3 minutes more. Asparagus should be bright green with brown spots.
• Add 1 tablespoon shallots and half the sesame seeds, and cook, shaking the pan to toss asparagus, for 1 to 2 minutes or until shallots are transparent. Do not let them burn.
• Add half the soy sauce, sesame oil, and pepper, and cook 30 seconds. Transfer to a plate, and keep warm. Repeat with remaining asparagus. Keep warm until ready to serve.

ASPARAGUS WITH SESAME SEEDS

Steps:

• Place the asparagus in a steamer basket; place in a saucepan over 1 in. of water. Bring to a boil; cover and steam for 4-5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Transfer to a serving dish. Combine the water, soy sauce, oil, salt and pepper; drizzle over asparagus. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

GRILLED SOY-SESAME ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat grill for high heat.
• In a bowl, mix sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, and brown sugar. Place asparagus in the bowl, and toss to coat.
• Lightly oil a fine-mesh grill grate. Place asparagus on grate, and cook 8 minutes, until tender but firm. Garnish with sesame seeds to serve.

ROASTED SESAME ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a roasting pan, toss with oil; season with salt. Roast 10 minutes, turning the asparagus halfway through.
• Add sesame seeds, and roast until the asparagus is lightly browned and tender, about 5 minutes more.

ASPARAGUS WITH TOASTED SESAME AIOLI

Steps:

• Steam the asparagus in a covered steamer over boiling water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes.
• Or, put the asparagus in a microwave-proof dish; add about 2 tablespoons water.
• Cover tightly and microwave on high for about 3 minutes, or until crisp-tender.
• Drain well.
• Rinse with cold water and drain again.
• Meanwhile, make the aioli:.
• Stir together all the aioli ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.
• To serve, arrange the asparagus spears in a tall, clear glass container. Spoon the sauce into a radicchio leaf or small dish, garnish with sesame seeds, and place nearby for dipping.

ASPARAGUS WITH TOASTED SESAME AIOLI

Steps:

• Steam the asparagus in a covered steamer over boiling water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Or, put the asparagus in a microwave-proof dish; add about 2 tablespoons water. Cover tightly and microwave on high for about 3 minutes. Drain well. Rinse with cold water and drain again. Meanwhile, make the aioli: Stir together all the aioli ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. To serve, arrange the asparagus spears in a tall, clear glass container. Spoon the sauce into a radicchio leaf or a small dish, garnish with sesame seeds, and place nearby for dipping. Toasting gives sesame seeds a slightly crispy texture and a nutty flavor. Put the seeds in a dry skillet over medium-high heat and toss constantly until they are lightly browned, about 3 to 5 minutes. Or, toast them on a jelly-roll pan in a preheated 350°F oven for about 10 minutes. Shake the pan or stir the seeds occasionally while toasting. Immediately transfer the seeds to a bowl. It takes the same amount of time to toast 1 tablespoon or 1/2 cup, so toast extra seeds, store them in an airtight container, and refrigerate or freeze for up to 6 months.

STIR-FRIED SESAME ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Lightly cook the asparagus into the boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and immediately plunge the asparagus into a bowl of ice water until the asparagus is cool; drain and pat dry.
• Toast the sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat until lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes; transfer to a dish and set aside to cool.
• Heat the peanut oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ginger and asparagus to the skillet, season with salt and cook until the ginger is fragrant, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; toss with the sesame oil and sesame seeds to serve.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS AND BABY ARTICHOKES WITH LEMON-OREGANO AIOLI

Steps:

• For aioli:
• Whisk mayonnaise, oil, oregano, garlic, lemon juice, and lemon peel in small bowl to blend. Season aioli to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.
• For artichokes and asparagus:
• Bring large saucepan of salted water to boil. Fill large bowl with cold water; squeeze juice from lemon halves into water. Working with 1 artichoke at a time, pull off all dark green outer leaves until only tender inner yellow leaves remain. Cut off top 1 inch from artichoke. Cut off stem and trim around stem base of artichoke. Cut artichoke lengthwise in half and immediately drop into lemon water to prevent discoloration. Repeat with remaining artichokes.
• Drain artichokes, then add to saucepan of boiling salted water and blanch 3 minutes. Drain again. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with foil. Place artichokes on 1 prepared baking sheet. Drizzle 1 tablespoon oil over; sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Spread in even layer on sheet. Place asparagus spears on second baking sheet. Drizzle remaining 2 tablespoons oil over; sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Spread in even layer on sheet. Roast asparagus and artichokes until tender, about 8 minutes for asparagus and about 15 minutes for artichokes. Arrange artichokes and asparagus on platter. Place bowl of aioli in center for dipping and serve.

ASPARAGUS WITH ROASTED-GARLIC AïOLI

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
• Cut off and discard tops of garlic heads to expose cloves, then brush each head with 1/2 tablespoon oil. Wrap heads together in foil and bake until tender, about 45 minutes. Cool to warm.
• Squeeze garlic from skins into a food processor and purée with mayonnaise, vinegar, pepper, and salt. Transfer aioli to a bowl and stir in chives.
• Peel lower two thirds of each asparagus stalk with a vegetable peeler. Cook asparagus in a wide 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well in a colander and rinse under cold water until asparagus is cool. Drain and pat dry with paper towels. Serve asparagus with roasted-garlic aioli.