ASPARAGUS TIMBALE

ASPARAGUS TIMBALE image

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 lbs of asparagus
3 Tbs butter, melted
1/2 cup finely diced onion
6 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup milk, heated
1/4 tsp salt
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
2/3 cup grated gruyere cheese
2/3 cup dried bread crumbs
Fresh tomato sauce with tarragon (recipe follows)

Steps:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Trim off tough ends of asparagus. Drop asparagus into a pot of rapidly boiling salted water and cook until tender, about 3-5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the spears. Remove from water and cut tips from the asparagus and set aside. Place the rest of the spears into a food processor or blender and process until smooth. In a saute pan, melt 2 tablespoons butter and saute the onion over medium heat until soft, about 5-8 minutes. Place onion in a mixing bowl. Into the same bowl, add the eggs and beat well. Slowly whisk in the hot milk. Stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter, salt, nutmeg and cheese. Mix in the asparagus puree and the reserved tips Fold in the bread crumbs. Butter six 8-ounce ramekins and divide the mixture among them. Or butter a 6 cup souffle mold and pour in the entire mixture. Place the ramekins or souffle mold in a baking pan and pour in boiling water until it reaches about two-thirds of the way up the dishes. Bake for about 25-30 minutes for the smaller ramekins or 35-50 minutes for the larger soufflé mold. when set, remove from water and let molds sit for 5 minutes before turning out. Serve with fresh tomato sauce with tarragon.