Best Spring Pea Crostini With Poached Eggs Shaved Asparagus Salad Recipes

CROSTINI WITH ROASTED GARLIC PEA PURéE AND ROASTED ASPARAGUS ANDERSEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Cut 1/2-inch off top of garlic head and put head on sheet of foil. Drizzle 1 tablespoon oil over garlic and wrap tightly in foil. Roast garlic in middle of oven until very soft, 40 to 50 minutes, and cool.
• While garlic is cooling, arrange baguette slices in one layer on a large baking sheet and brush lightly on each side with additional oil. Bake slices in middle of oven until crisp and pale golden, 5 to 10 minutes, and transfer to rack.
• Squeeze roasted garlic from head into a food processor and add peas and salt and pepper to taste. Blend pea mixture until coarsely puréed. On baking sheet toss asparagus pieces with remaining tablespoon oil and sesame seeds and arrange in one layer. Roast asparagus in middle of oven, stirring occasionally, until tender and golden, about 10 minutes.
• Spread toasts with pea purée and divide asparagus among them.

SPRING PEA AND RICOTTA CROSTINI WITH FAVA BEANS

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of well-salted water to a boil and set up a bowl of well-salted ice water. Drop the peas in the boiling water, let the water return to a boil and cook the peas for 2 minutes. Scoop the peas out of the water and plunge them immediately into the ice water. When the peas are cool, remove them from the ice water and reserve. Repeat this process with the fava beans. When the favas are cool, peel off the tough outer layer and reserve the beans.
• In a food processor, pulse the peas to make a coarse paste. In a large bowl, combine the pea paste, ricotta and parmigiano; mix well, season with kosher salt (about 1/2 teaspoon) and taste to make sure it's delicious. In a separate bowl, toss the favas with the olive oil, mint, lemon zest and a pinch of kosher salt. Set aside.
• Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush both sides of the bread slices with olive oil and grill, flipping, until lightly charred, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Spread about 1 tablespoon of the pea-ricotta mixture onto each crostini. Top with the favas, a final shaving of parmigiano, a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt.

SHAVED ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH GINGER AND SESAME

Steps:

• Make the dressing: In a small bowl, stir together rice vinegar, ginger, garlic and brown sugar. Add jalapeño and sesame oil, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Snap or cut off the tough bottoms of each asparagus spear. With a vegetable peeler, peel each tough-skinned spear, starting halfway down from tip and peeling toward bottom end.
• Cut the asparagus at a long diagonal into very thin slices (not paper thin - about the width of a thinly sliced onion). Place asparagus slices in a wide salad bowl. Season with salt and pepper and toss lightly. Add the ginger dressing and toss to coat well. Taste and adjust. Add scallions and lime juice and toss again.
• Garnish with mint leaves and cilantro sprigs. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

ASPARAGUS, GREEN PEA, AND EGG SALAD CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool baking sheet on rack. Set aside.
• Spread asparagus pieces on parchment-lined small baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.
• While asparagus is baking, blanch peas. Fill a small saucepan half full with water. Bring to a boil. Add peas and let cook 1 minute until peas are bright green. Immediately drain peas in a strainer and run cold water over them. Shake off excess water and set aside.
• To make egg salad: cut hard-boiled eggs in half. Separate egg whites and yolks. Chop egg whites into 1/4-inch pieces and set aside. Put the egg yolks in a small-medium bowl. Add mayonnaise to the egg yolks and mix with a fork until smooth. Add salt and pepper and mix. Add chopped egg whites, peas, and cooled asparagus. Stir.
• Wash and gently pat dry basil leaves with a cloth or paper towel. To assemble, put 2 medium basil leaves on each baguette toast. Using two small spoons, place 1 to 2 tablespoons egg salad in the middle of the toast on top of the basil so the basil shows at either end. Garnish with smaller basil leaves.
• These crostini are best made just before serving, but can be made up to 2 hours in advance and kept refrigerated before serving.
• Tips
• Substitute frozen peas for fresh. Follow the recipe to blanch them.
• Try other garnishes on top of the egg salad: dried basil, paprika, red chili flakes, grated Parmesan cheese.
• Nutrition Information
• Serving size: 1 serving
• Calories: 123
• Fat: 6g (41.8% calories from fat)
• Cholesterol: 45mg
• Sodium: 213mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 14g
• Dietary Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 4g