Asparagus.
Spring, From asparagus and artichokes to peas and broad beans, spring brings a fresh crop of sweet, versatile vegetables that brighten any meal.
Asparagus
The short-lived season, spanning just six to eight weeks, makes it the most eagerly awaited springtime food.
The arrival of asparagus heralds the beginning of summer’s succulent salads, and the end of the wintry brassica’s reign. Long considered a delicacy, in the past asparagus has been prized as highly as oysters or truffles.
Here are ten facts about this sweet-stemmed springtime vegetable:
1. Asparagus is a member of the lily family.
2. Asparagus first came to Britain with the Romans. It thrives as a wild plant, and with its high tolerance of sandy, salty soil it will grow along riverbanks, shores of lakes, and coastlines, leading to much argument as to where it actually originated.
3. Asparagus also comes in shades of purple and red, which turn green only when cooked.
4. Sizes range from slender, young ‘sprue’ asparagus to thicker-stemmed, jumbo-sized ‘kitchen’ grades.
5. It takes about three years for asparagus plants to become established, and even longer to reach a fully productive state.
6. In the UK, asparagus is traditionally grown in the Vale of Evesham in Worcestershire, and East Anglia.
7. Asparagus is considered a difficult food to pair with wine – it contains methyl mercaptan, a sulphur compound, which tends to give wine a vegetal or metallic taste. Try pairing asparagus with cool-climate wines that have pronounced herbal flavours to counteract this.
8. Top accompaniments for asparagus are butter, parmesan, hollandaise and vinaigrette, eggs, bacon or pancetta.
9. White asparagus is grown by creating mounds of soil around the growing spears, hiding them from the light and resulting in their blanched, pale look. It is particularly labour-intensive to harvest, as experienced eyes are needed to spot the spear tips in the soil.
10. In Thailand and Vietnam asparagus is known as măng tây, which means ‘European bamboo shoots’.
Prepping asparagus .
Because asparagus is grown in sandy soil, rinse the spears — especially the tips — with cold water. Snap off the woody base of each spear by bending the spear a few times to find a place where it breaks easily. This is usually around the bottom third of the spear and where the woody part starts to turn tender. If desired, scrape off the scales on the spears with a vegetable peeler. This gives the spears a smooth, clean look and is especially beneficial for tough or fat spears.
Roasted Crispy Chicken with Braised Spring Vegetables
Ingredients : serves 4
For the chicken:
4 Pieces of Skin-on Bone-in Chicken Thighs
2 Tbsp of Olive Oil
2 Large Shallots, peeled and halved
4 garlic cloves peel on no need to remove : smashed
4 sprigs rosemary
8 sprigs thyme
Salt & Pepper to season
For the spring vegetables:
1 knob of butter
olive oil
150 ml white wine
150 ml organic chicken or vegetable stock
I clove garlic pealed and smashed
2 large shallots diced
500g asparagus
400 g fresh peas and broad beans removed from shells (frozen can be used too)
2 little gem lettuces, sliced
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
good-quality extra virgin olive oil
Method
1: Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
2: in an oven proof dish make a bed out of the rosemary,thyme, halved shallot and garlic , pat dry the chicken pieces , season and place on top of its herby bed and dress with olive oil, cook in oven for aprox 20/25 mins until skin is crispy and cooked through.
3: prepare your peas, broad beans and asparagus (tip for asparagus see above ) for blanching
4: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add enough salt so it tastes as salty as the ocean.
5: Prepare a large bowl of ice water
6: Put veggies in the boiling water for max 2 mins !!! Not any longer
7: Drain vegetables and transfer them to the ice water. Swish them around in the water until cool. Drain and pat dry .( blanching like this intensifies the the colour and flavour)
10: now add the little gem lettuce just to wilt ,Taste, correct the seasoning . Ready to serve
11: to serve . Divide the braised vegetables on to hot dishes with all its juices then carefully place the roasted chicken thighs on top , dress with good extra virgin olive oil 😋
This dish can be made for a quick midweek meal or for a wonderfully delicious dinner party , still flummoxed or nervous and want to try this I can come and cook it for you ! 😃🔪🍴
For more info don’t hesitate to mail or call :
simon.bingham@simons-sauces.com
0031(0) 642297107
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