Asparagus season

[strung out]

White asparagus is picked before the stalks have the chance to grow over ground, thus not having the opportunity to develop chlorophyll. Bit barbaric if you ask me

 

[Ms T]

Has anyone ever made Hollandaise sauce? Is it within the grasp of an average cook?

I am a pretty good cook and I think hollandaise and mayonnaise are both quite tricky.

This method I think is easy and should work (there's a similar recipe for mayo which is genius and means I can now make my own).

This Foolproof Hollandaise Sauce Takes Just 2 Minutes to Make

Intimidated by hollandaise sauce? This easy, speedy version requires just four ingredients and comes together quickly with the help of an immersion blender.

www.seriouseats.com

 

[TopCat]

Urban continues to be fantastic. Rowing over asparagus for fucks sake.
Anyway, imported asparagus from Peru or wherever is just wrong. English asparagus is the finest in the world and should be to a person of taste, the only green vegetable eaten in the month of June.

 

[TopCat]

White asparagus is picked before the stalks have the chance to grow over ground, thus not having the opportunity to develop chlorophyll. Bit barbaric if you ask me

It’s worse than veal taken direct from the womb.

 

[Edie]

I am a pretty good cook and I think hollandaise and mayonnaise are both quite tricky.

This method I think is easy and should work (there's a similar recipe for mayo which is genius and means I can now make my own).

This Foolproof Hollandaise Sauce Takes Just 2 Minutes to Make

Intimidated by hollandaise sauce? This easy, speedy version requires just four ingredients and comes together quickly with the help of an immersion blender.

www.seriouseats.com

Thanks for the thought Ms T but I don’t have an immersion blender (or even know what one is!).

 

[killer b]

Thanks for the thought Ms T but I don’t have an immersion blender (or even know what one is!).

it's a stick blender

 

[Edie]

I dunno, there's lots of plant

it's a stick blender

Oh I see!

 

[Epona]

it's a stick blender

I don't have one of those, I fear it would result in tomato sauce on the ceiling. Worth getting one?
(I have a trusty jug blender, I'm not some sort of barbarian who leaves everything chunky).

 

[killer b]

I almost never use my jug blender these days tbh, stick blenders are way more useful. I've never sauced the ceiling, they have guards that stop that happening.

 

[nogojones]

Fuck off. I read it. Waitrose had it in stock in February last year. It usually available long before At George's Day. Tradition is historic, not current.

Put on ignore for crude offensive language

 

[UnderOpenSky]

I'm getting some organic UK stuff tonight. Having a market gardener as my OH had some advantages.

 

[Edie]

I almost never use my jug blender these days tbh, stick blenders are way more useful. I've never sauced the ceiling, they have guards that stop that happening.

I have a nutriblend but it’s a bit of a pita having to ladle stuff in and out but did used to have one of those cheap stick ones!

 

[killer b]

Get an expansive stick blender, you won't look back.

 

[Edie]

Get an expansive stick blender, you won't look back.

I may well do that

 

[The39thStep]

Can't you grow it yourself? It must be possible to grow it here like any other asparagus.

I think it’s blanched to get the whiteness so needs to be grown either under black plastic , perhaps buckets or a very fine yet thick mulch . I suppose those ceramic rhubarb pots would do the trick .

 

[Espresso]

Thread needs more cooking tips, I tend to sauté it in olive oil and butter and then have some fried/poached eggs with it and then top the lot with Parmesan, but beyond that I’m a bit clueless with it.

If you eat steak, you might like this.
Parboil your asparagus and then finish them/it off in the still smoking hot pan you have just used to cook the steak, chuck in a big fat blob of butter and a good twist of black pepper. The butter melts and froths and picks up all the steak bits and so you have steak served with asparagus in a buttery steak sauce. Sprinkle of chopped tarragon in at the end if you're feeling fancy.
That's what I'm having for tea tonight. Looking forward to it.

 

[hash tag]

The 3rd March for us, but this is rare and expensive. We have seen Italian cooperative asparagus in the shops as well as usual suspects.

Mrs Tag has just bought some British asparagus in the supermarket

Question is, how to cook it.

 

[Pickman's model]

The 3rd March for us, but this is rare and expensive. We have seen Italian cooperative asparagus in the shops as well as usual suspects.

Question is, how to cook it.

Cooperative asparagus is very easy to cook but many varieties are more recalcitrant

 

[Orang Utan]

The 3rd March for us, but this is rare and expensive. We have seen Italian cooperative asparagus in the shops as well as usual suspects.

Question is, how to cook it.

Roast is best IMO

 

[Orang Utan]

Some ideas here:

Spears of destiny: 17 ways to make the most of asparagus season

From tarts to salads to soups to puddings, asparagus is one of our most versatile vegetables – and right now it’s at its freshest. Here are some inspiring ideas to try at home

www.google.co.uk

 

[farmerbarleymow]

White asparagus is picked before the stalks have the chance to grow over ground, thus not having the opportunity to develop chlorophyll. Bit barbaric if you ask me

It seems unecessarily cruel. I always feel a bit guilty about forced rhubarb too.

 

[dessiato]

.

 

[Maggot]

I've got some asparagus in my veg box, I'm making this to take to a garden gathering tomorrow.

How to make the perfect asparagus tart

Felicity Cloake: The pungent, herbaceous flavour of this treat makes it an excellent partner to rich, creamy cheeses and custards

www.theguardian.com

 

[Ms T]

Roast is best IMO

Agreed.

 

[killer b]

We did the hand blender hollandaise: can confirm it's a doddle, perfect results.

 

[dessiato]

We got 1kg of fresh asparagus for 12€ today. Bit of a rip off but it is wonderful

 

[miss direct]

Got some from Tesco.

 

[Orang Utan]

Got some from Tesco.

Btw was it Isot you recommended the other day? Is it the same as Urfa? I saw some on sale in Waitrose today

 

[miss direct]

Btw was it Isot you recommended the other day? Is it the same as Urfa? I saw some on sale in Waitrose today

Is it black/dark red and flaky? I think it might be the same. Thanks for the tip. Waitrose can be good for some things. Was the only place I located barberries for a Persian dish.

 

[Orang Utan]

Is it black/dark red and flaky? I think it might be the same. Thanks for the tip. Waitrose can be good for some things. Was the only place I located barberries for a Persian dish.

Yes, that’s it! They’ve got a new range of Levantine/Middle Eastern foodstuffs and for some reason they include Turkish cuisine in that