Best Spring Asparagus With Matzo Meal Dressing Recipes

CHEESE MATZO BLINTZES WITH ASPARAGUS AND DILL

Steps:

• To make crepes: Blend milk, matzo meal, eggs, oil and salt in a blender until smooth.
• Let batter stand 30 minutes.
• Stir batter before using.
• Lightly brush a 10 inch skillet with oil and heat over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking.
• Holding skillet off heat, pour in 1/3 c.
• batter, tilting and rotating pan to coat bottom.
• Return skillet to heat and cook crepe until top is set and edge and bottom are golden, about one minute.
• Remove skillet from heat and loosen edge of crepe with a spatula.
• Release crepe onto a plate.
• Repeat until all the batter is gone.
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• To make filling: cook asparagus in a wide 4 to 5 quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until just tender (about 5 minutes).
• Transfer asparagus with a slotted spoon to a butting board to cool.
• Cut off and reserve tips, then finely chop stalks.
• Stir together cottage cheese, chopped stalks, dill, egg, pepper and salt.
• Assemble blintzes: Put 1 crepe, paler side up, and spread a scant 1/3 c.
• of filling in a horizontal line just below center of crepe, leaving a 3/4 inch border at each end.
• Fold in sides of crepe over ends of filling, then beginning at bottom, roll up to enclose filling.
• Transfer, seam side down, to a lightly buttered 15 by 10 inch shallow baking pan.
• Fill and transfer remaining crepes in same manner.
• Bake blintzes, covered with foil, until filling is hot, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Make topping just before blintzes are ready to serve: heat butter in a 10-12 inch skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides.
• Add scallions and cook, stirring until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in asparagus tips, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring until aspargus is heated through, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in dill.
• Spoon topping over blintzes.

ASPARAGUS MATZOH BREI

Steps:

• Snap the ends off the asparagus where they break naturally. Peel the spears. Cut the asparagus in one-inch lengths.
• Place the asparagus in a steamer or in a pot of simmering water and steam or cook about three minutes, until they are just tender and still bright green. Drain the asparagus, if necessary, and refresh under cold running water. Dry them well.
• Heat a tablespoon of the butter or oil in a large nonstick skillet. Saute the onions over medium-low heat until they are golden, about six minutes. Remove the onions from the pan and mix them with the asparagus.
• Crumble the matzohs and soak them in a bowl of hot water about 30 seconds. Drain well and squeeze out as much water as possible. Mix the eggs and matzohs together in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the onions and asparagus.
• Heat the remaining butter or oil in the skillet. Add the matzoh mixture and cook over medium-high heat several minutes, until the mixture sets on the bottom and around the edges. Cover the skillet with a large plate and, holding both plate and skillet together, flip them over so the matzoh brei is cooked side up on the plate. Slide it back into the pan and cook the second side. Cut it in wedges and serve with a sprinkling of grated cheese, if desired.

SPRING LAYERED SALAD WITH ASPARAGUS AND BUTTERMILK DRESSING

Steps:

• Toss the onions with 2 tablespoons each vinegar and cold water and a large pinch of salt in a small bowl. Let sit for at least 30 minutes, tossing occasionally. (The onions will turn bright pink.) Strain.
• Meanwhile, set up a steamer in a pot of simmering water. Add the asparagus, and steam until bright green and crisp-tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove, spread out on a baking sheet and let cool.
• Whisk together the buttermilk, Parmesan, mayonnaise, garlic, the remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a small bowl.
• Using a straight-sided 3-quart tall glass bowl for 1 large salad or four 16-ounce wide-mouth glass jars with lids for 4 individual salads, make a first layer with half the arugula, then add the following in separate layers: the radishes, half the broccoli, the snap peas, the pickled red onion, the remaining arugula, the remaining broccoli, and the asparagus and egg. Sprinkle the top with the almonds. (The salad can be put together, covered and refrigerated for up to 2 hours before serving.)
• If making 1 salad, just before serving, transfer it to a large bowl, toss with about half the dressing and season with salt and pepper. If making 4 salads, add dressing to each jar, season with salt and pepper, cover with the lid and shake to coat. Serve the remaining dressing on the side.

SPRINGTIME ASPARAGUS MEDLEY

Steps:

• In large saucepan, bring water to oil. Add aspargus; cover and cook for 3-5 minutes or until crisp-tender. (I steamed my asparagus in the microwave.) Drain.
• Add tomatoes; cover and keep warm.
• In a blender, combine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, onion, salt and paprika; cover and process until smooth. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream.
• Pour over asparagus mixture and toss to coat.
• Transfer to serving bowl; sprinkle with almonds and blue cheese if desired. Serve warm.

CHICKEN SOUP WITH ASPARAGUS AND SHIITAKES, SERVED WITH ROASTED FENNEL MATZO BALLS

Steps:

• Prepare the matzo balls: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Cut off the fennel stalks and reserve for another use (excellent for fish broths and stews). If there are some attractive feathery fronds, set aside about 2 tablespoons of them to garnish the soup. Quarter the bulbs and trim away the stems, the bottom hard core, and any tough parts. Choose a shallow baking pan just large enough to fit the fennel in one layer and put in 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add the fennel and toss until well coated. Roast the fennel until pale gold, about 20 minutes, then turn the fennel over and roast for 10 minutes longer. Stir in the broth, garlic, salt and pepper to taste, and 1/2 teaspoon of the thyme. Cover the pan with foil and cook for 35 to 45 minutes longer, or until the fennel is very soft. Remove the foil, stir, and roast for a few more minutes to evaporate most of the liquid. Transfer the fennel and garlic to a food processor and chop coarsely. Add the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of thyme, salt (it will need about 1 teaspoon), pepper to taste, and the fennel seeds, if using. With the machine on, add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil through the feed tube.
• Scrape the mixture into a large bowl. You need 1 cup of puree, so nosh on any extra. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time. Add the matzo meal and stir well. If you can form a lump into a very soft walnut-size ball (the batter will become firmer when you chill it), don't add any more matzo meal. If necessary, add just enough matzo meal to enable you to do so. Refrigerate for at least 2 or up to 4 hours so the matzo meal can drink in the liquid and seasoning.
• When ready to cook, bring 4 quarts water and 1 tablespoon of salt to a rapid boil in a large, wide, lidded pot. Dipping your hands into cold water if needed, roll the batter into walnut-size balls. When all the balls are rolled and the water is boiling furiously, turn the heat down to a gentle boil. Carefully slide in the balls one at a time and cover the pot tightly.
• Turn the heat down to a simmer, and cook over low heat for 30 minutes, without removing the cover. (They will cook by direct heat as well as by steam, which makes them puff and swell, and lifting the lid will allow some of that steam to escape.) Take out a dumpling and cut it in half. It should be light, fluffy and completely cooked through. If it isn't, continue cooking a few more minutes. Remove the balls gently with a skimmer or large slotted spoon-they are too fragile to pour into a colander.
• When the matzo balls are almost ready, start the soup: Bring the broth to a simmer in a large pot. Add the matzo balls, the mushrooms, and asparagus and simmer for about 5 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the matzo balls to shallow soup bowls and ladle the hot soup and the vegetables over them. Garnish with the reserved chopped fennel fronds.

SPRING ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring 1 cup water to a boil. Add asparagus; cook, covered, until crisp-tender, 3-5 minutes. Drain; place in a large bowl. Add tomatoes; cover and keep warm. , Place vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, onion, salt and paprika in a blender; cover and process until smooth. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Toss with asparagus mixture. Top with almonds and, if desired, cheese.