Best Asparagus With Watercress Sauce Recipes

ARTICHOKES, ASPARAGUS, AND WATERCRESS SALAD WITH CUMIN VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• To prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, combine the vinegar mustard, cumin, and sugar; season with salt and pepper. Whisk to blend. While whisking, slowly drizzle in the olive oil, mixing until the vinaigrette is emulsified. Set aside.
• To prepare the salad: Fill a medium bowl with 2 cups of ice cubes and cover with cold water. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus and blanch until tender but not mushy, about 3 minutes. Drain the asparagus in a colander and transfer to the ice water bath to stop the cooking. Drain again and place on a paper towel-lined plate to dry. Cut the asparagus stalks into thirds.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the blanched asparagus, parsley, artichokes, tomatoes, and watercress. Whisk the vinaigrette to combine and pour over the salad. Toss to coat and serve.

ASPARAGUS POTATO AND WATERCRESS SOUP

Steps:

• Over medium heat, sweat the shallots and garlic in butter in a pot.
• Once the shallots are translucent add the potato, asparagus and tarragon.
• After a minute, add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
• Once the asparagus and potatoes are cooked through (timing will depend on size of pieces), puree in a blender and pass through a fine strainer.
• Place back in pot and bring to a boil.
• Since watercress is a little bitter, I suggest you add it gradually- puree& taste.
• Repeat until it suits you.
• Add the cream and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Garnish with chervil.

PAN SEARED SALMON WITH ASPARAGUS LEMON SALAD, RED WINE REDUCTION AND WATERCRESS PUREE

Steps:

• Red wine reduction: Put all ingredients in a wide shallow pan and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Slowly reduce until concentrated and thick.
• Salad: Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the asparagus, blanch for just 1 minute and then drain. Heat a large saute pan over medium heat and add olive oil. Stir in the shallots and cook until they begin to turn translucent. Add the asparagus and cook until heated through. Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Salmon: Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper, to taste, and sear until almost cooked through, about 7 minutes. Turn the fillets over and cook them for 2 minutes more.
• Watercress puree: Add all the ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Arrange the salmon on a serving platter and garnish with the wine reduction and watercress puree. Serve the salad alongside or in a separate bowl.

ASPARAGUS SOUP WITH SUMAC AND WATERCRESS

Steps:

• For the soup base: Melt the butter in a soup pot over medium heat. When the butter is bubbling and frothy, add the shallot and the celery and cook for 2 minutes. Add the diced potato, thyme, bay leaf, and stock. Turn the heat to high, bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes until potatoes are tender.
• Finish the soup: While the soup base simmers, snap the woody ends off the asparagus, about 2 inches from the root end. Discard those ends and cut the remaining spears into 1-inch long pieces. Add the cut asparagus to the pot, cover, and cook for 4 more minutes. Add the watercress, tahini, cream, salt, and sumac. Remove (and discard) the bay leaf and thyme sprigs and remove from heat. Carefully pour the soup into a blender and puree until smooth. Ladle into soup bowls.
• Garnish the soup: Garnish the soup with feta, potato chips, scallions, aleppo pepper, olive oil, and serve.

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 AND WATERCRESS, STIR-FRIED

Steps:

• Snap off the ends of the asparagus where they break naturally, then cut them into slices one-half inch thick sharply at an angle.
• Rinse and drain the watercress and trim off any heavy stems. Separate the watercress into branches.
• Shortly before serving time, heat the oil in a wok or large skillet. Add the asparagus and stir-fry them two to three minutes until they begin to lose their rawness and turn bright green. Sprinkle them with sugar.
• Add the watercress and stir-fry until the watercress wilts. Season with salt. Transfer to a serving dish and serve hot or at room temperature.