Spring Asparagus With Matzo Meal Dressing Recipes

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.

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.

Steps:

• Blanch asparagus in large quantity of salted water and refresh. Pat dry and cut stalks in to 1-inch sections.
• In a bowl combine dashi, soy sauce, vinegar, mustard and lemon zest. Mix asparagus with dressing just before serving. Garnish with julienned lemon rind

Steps:

• In a large serving bowl, add the lettuce, radishes, asparagus, shallot and chives. Drizzle with some of the salad dressing and gently toss to coat. Place some popovers on the salad as croutons. Garnish with the crispy chicken skin (gribenes). Serve the remaining salad dressing and whole popovers on the side.
• For the salad dressing: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the lemon zest and juice, honey mustard, honey, poppyseeds, salt and several grinds of pepper. Add the olive oil and whisk to emulsify.
• For the schmaltz and gribenes: Add 2 tablespoons water to a medium, nonstick pan. Scatter the chicken skin and fat in the pan and season with the salt. Heat over low heat to begin the fat-rendering process, stirring occasionally, until there's a layer of fat in the bottom of the skillet and the pieces have begun to brown, about 20 minutes. Stir and continue to simmer and render the fat until the skin is deep golden and crisp, about 25 to 30 minutes more. Strain the fat and pour it into a liquid measuring cup (this is the schmaltz). Drain the gribenes on a paper towel lined plate. Season lightly with salt.
• For the Passover popovers: Place an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Grease a 24-cup, mini-popover pan with some of the chicken schmaltz. In the measuring cup with the schmaltz, add enough vegetable oil to yield a total 1/2 cup of fat. Pour into a small saucepan. Add the honey, salt, and 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Combine the matzo meal and cake meal in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. With the mixer on low, add the boiling mixture in a stream until the mixture is smooth and thick. Turn off the mixer and let cool just until the bowl is warm to the touch, about 10 minutes.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating on high speed and scraping down the bowl in between each addition, until the mixture is smooth and glossy. Using an ice cream scoop, fill each cavity of the muffin tin two-thirds of the way up with batter.
• Sprinkle the tops with flakey salt. Bake until the popovers are puffed and just beginning to brown, about 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F and bake until the popovers are crisp and deep golden, 13 to 15 minutes more. Remove to a rack to cool. The popovers can be served warm or at room temperature.