Monday, April 23, 2012

clean plate: asparagus

Not sure about you friends, but coming up with a great side dish is always the toughest part of planning a meal. When we spotted this recipe in Gourmet magazine, we thought it would be the perfect compliment to a grilled main dish with friends on a crisp spring evening.

Asparagus with Morels and Tarragon

SERVES 6
ACTIVE TIME:1 HR
START TO FINISH:1 HR

Tarragon leaves and meaty morel caps shoot up all over the Jura mountains in the spring. Here, tossed with juicy green and white asparagus—Europeans are particularly mad for the latter—they're a genuine sampling of the season.

1 lb white asparagus, trimmed, peeled, and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 lb green asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon pieces
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots (2 large)
1/4 lb pound fresh morels, cleaned and halved lengthwise if large
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

GARNISH:
chopped fresh tarragon

Cook white and green asparagus separately in a 5- to 6-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until just tender, about 5 minutes for white asparagus; about 3 minutes for green asparagus.
Transfer asparagus with a slotted spoon to a colander and rinse under cold water (to stop cooking), then drain again. Pat dry.
Heat 3 tablespoons butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté shallots, stirring, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add morels and sauté, stirring frequently, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add asparagus, tarragon, salt, pepper, and remaining 3 tablespoons butter and sauté, stirring, until heated through, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Serve immediately.
COOK'S NOTE: Asparagus can be boiled 1 day ahead and chilled in a sealed plastic bag lined with paper towels.

RECIPE BY GINA MARIE MIRAGLIA ERIQUEZ

PHOTOGRAPH BY DITTE ISAGER


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