With the arrival of warmer weather, it's time to embrace the vibrant flavors of spring produce. This article presents two delightful recipes that showcase the best of seasonal vegetables – Asparagus, Cucumber, and Sugar Snap Peas with Herb Garlic Dip and Spring Vegetable Skewers with Feta-Herb Dressing.
The first recipe, Asparagus, Cucumber, and Sugar Snap Peas with Herb Garlic Dip, features a refreshing combination of crisp asparagus, cool cucumber, and sweet sugar snap peas, all tossed in a flavorful herb garlic dip. This dish is not only visually appealing but also packed with nutrients and antioxidants. The tangy dip, made with fresh herbs, Greek yogurt, and a hint of garlic, perfectly complements the fresh vegetables.
The second recipe, Spring Vegetable Skewers with Feta-Herb Dressing, offers a fun and interactive way to enjoy a variety of spring vegetables. Tender asparagus, zucchini, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and mushrooms are skewered and grilled to perfection. The skewers are then drizzled with a creamy feta-herb dressing, adding a touch of richness and tang. This dish is a great option for parties or gatherings, as it's easy to prepare and allows for customization based on personal preferences.
Both recipes highlight the versatility and deliciousness of seasonal vegetables, making them perfect for a light and healthy meal or as a refreshing side dish.
SAUTEED ASPARAGUS AND SNAP PEAS
Steps:
- Cut off the tough ends of the asparagus and slice the stalks diagonally into 2-inch pieces. Snap off the stem ends of the snap peas and pull the string down the length of the vegetable.
- Warm the olive oil in a large saute pan over a medium heat and add the asparagus and snap peas. Add the salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, to taste, if desired. Cook for approximately 5 to10 minutes until al dente, tossing occasionally. Sprinkle with sea salt and serve hot.
ASPARAGUS & SNAP PEA SALAD
Perfect for when you're expecting a large number of guests for dinner, this salad boasts springtime flavors. It's usually the first empty bowl at a potluck.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 25m
Yield 14 servings (3/4 cup each).
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- In a Dutch oven, bring 8 cups water to a boil. Add asparagus in batches; cook, uncovered, 2-4 minutes or just until crisp-tender. Remove asparagus and immediately drop into ice water. Drain and pat dry., In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients until blended. In a large bowl, combine asparagus, tomatoes, snap peas, red pepper and onion. Drizzle dressing over asparagus mixture; toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving., Just before serving, stir in cheese, walnuts and cherries.
Nutrition Facts :
SNAP PEA AND CUCUMBER SALAD
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Time 16m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- For the salad: Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the snap peas and cook until vibrant green, about 1 to 2 minutes. Drain and transfer to a bowl of iced water to cool, about 2 minutes. Drain and add to a salad bowl. Stir in the cucumbers, tomatoes and dill.
- For the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil and lemon zest until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until coated.
- Cook's Note: As an alternative to boiling, the snap peas can be lightly steamed for 2 minutes.
SAUTéED ASPARAGUS
Sautéed asparagus cooks quickly with olive oil, garlic, and butter, and is finished with lemon juice and parmesan cheese. It's an easy spring side!
Categories Easter Mother's Day spring side dish
Time 15m
Yield 3-4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Trim the woody ends from the base of the asparagus spears by cutting off the bottom 2 inches or by snapping it off with your hands.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add the asparagus in a single layer and cook, turning occasionally, until lightly golden and almost tender, 8 to 10 minutes. (Cut a small piece from the end of one asparagus to see if it's near tender.)
- Reduce the heat to low. Add the butter, garlic, salt and pepper and stir to coat the asparagus. Cook until the garlic is softened and fragrant, 1 to 2 more minutes. Immediately transfer to a serving plate.
- Just before serving, squeeze the juice from the lemon half over the asparagus and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
PASTA WITH SUGAR SNAP PEAS, ASPARAGUS AND PARMESAN
Categories Cheese Pasta Vegetable Bake Vegetarian Spring Sugar Snap Pea Bon Appétit
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Add asparagus to large pot of boiling salted water. Cook until just crisp-tender. Transfer to bowl of cold water using slotted spoon. Cool asparagus slightly and drain. Add pasta to same pot of water and boil until just tender but still firm to bite. Add sugar snap peas and boil 2 minutes. Add asparagus and heat through. Drain will. Return pasta-vegetable mixture to pot. Add oil and toss to coat. Add 1/2 cup cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, passing additional cheese separately.
PAN-SEARED ASPARAGUS WITH CRISPY GARLIC
Before asparagus got moved to its own botanical family, Asparagaceae, in the early 2000s, it was part of the lily family along with onions, chives, shallots and garlic. It makes sense then, that asparagus and garlic make such a good duo. When cooked with care, both can be mild and sweet (or pungent and bitter when cooked carelessly). To highlight the best of both ingredients, gently fry garlic into chips for a crispy topping, then use the lightly infused oil to sauté the asparagus. Both thin and chubby spears work, as would nearly any other vegetable you like with garlic: broccoli, kale, snap peas, fennel and more.
Provided by Ali Slagle
Categories vegetables, side dish
Time 10m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Place a paper towel-lined plate next to the stove. In a medium or large skillet, combine the garlic and olive oil over medium-low heat. Cook, shaking the skillet often, until the garlic is very light golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat, tilt it, then use a slotted spoon to transfer the garlic to the towel-lined plate, leaving the remaining oil in the skillet. Season the crispy garlic with salt.
- Return the skillet to medium-high heat. Add the asparagus, season with salt and pepper, and cook, shaking often, until bright green, crisp-tender and browned in spots, 4 to 5 minutes. Slide onto a platter, including any oil in the skillet. Top with the garlic chips and season again with salt and pepper.
PLEASING PEAS AND ASPARAGUS
Guests won't be able to resist the fresh flavor and color of this springtime vegetable combination from Nina Hall of Citrus Heights, California.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 20m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add peas, asparagus, butter, parsley, garlic salt if desired and pepper. Return to a boil. , Reduce heat; cover and simmer until asparagus is crisp-tender, about 10 minutes. Drain; serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts :
ASPARAGUS, PEAS, AND CUCUMBER "CACIO E PEPE"
Classic cacio e pepe-pasta swirled in copious amounts of cheese and cracked black pepper-is heavenly, but undeniably heavy. Those bold flavors are airy on blanched peas and "noodles" of thinly sliced cucumbers and broiled asparagus. Drizzle on a quick dressing of lemon juice, grated garlic cloves, and extra-virgin olive oil for a comfort-food update that puts even more spring in your step. This recipe is featured in the cookbook Salad Freak: Recipes to Feed a Healthy Obsession ($26.99, amazon.com).
Provided by Jess Damuck
Yield Serves 2 as a light meal
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Boil water in a small pot and salt it heavily. Prepare an ice bath with a fine-mesh sieve set over it to contain your peas. Add peas to boiling water and boil until crisp-tender and bright green. Strain and transfer to ice bath. Trim ends off cucumbers and shave into long ribbons using a Y-peeler. Add to ice bath to crisp up.
- Preheat broiler, with a rack about 4 inches from heating element. Using Y-peeler, peel asparagus from root end to tip. When you get down to where you can't peel anymore, trim off ends and discard, and transfer peelings to a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle asparagus with a bit of oil and season with salt and lots of black pepper. Toss well to coat. Broil until just charred, about 4 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine lemon juice and oil. Grate garlic into mixture. Drain and pat dry cucumbers and add to bowl, along with arugula, broiled asparagus, and peas. Transfer to serving plates or a platter. Grate a fluffy cloud of both cheeses over the top and stir everything together before taking your first bite.
ASPARAGUS AND CUCUMBER VINAIGRETTE
Quickly steamed asparagus keeps its bright green color and crisp-tender texture, making it a good match for cucumber.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Healthy Recipes Gluten-Free Recipes
Time 10m
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Place a steamer basket in a saucepan filled with 1 inch water. Bring to a boil. Add asparagus, cover, and cook until crisp-tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. In a bowl, combine asparagus, cucumber, vinegar, and oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 57 g, Fat 3 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 3 g
PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH ASPARAGUS AND PEAS
This simple pasta primavera uses a combination of the earliest vegetables available in spring - asparagus, peas and spring onions - making it a true celebration of the season. The sauce works best with springy egg pasta, preferably homemade or a good purchased brand. Make sure not to overcook it; you need the chewy bite to stand up to the gently cooked vegetables. If you can't find good fresh English peas, you can substitute frozen peas, but don't add them until the last minute of cooking.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, lunch, quick, pastas, main course
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- While the water is coming to a boil, slice snap peas and asparagus stems into 1/4-inch-thick pieces; leave asparagus tips whole.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add snap peas, asparagus, English peas and onion. Cook until vegetables are barely tender (but not too soft or mushy), 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
- Drop pasta into boiling water and cook until al dente (1 to 3 minutes for fresh pasta, more for dried pasta). Drain well and transfer pasta to a large bowl. Immediately toss pasta with vegetables, Parmigiano-Reggiano, crème fraîche and herbs. Season generously with salt and pepper, if needed.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 553, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 76 grams, Fat 18 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 23 grams, SaturatedFat 10 grams, Sodium 576 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams, TransFat 0 grams
ASPARAGUS, CUCUMBER, AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH HERB GARLIC DIP
Categories Cocktail Party Yogurt Asparagus Cucumber Summer Sugar Snap Pea Gourmet
Yield Serves 8 as an hors d'oeuvre
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Make dip
- In a cheesecloth-lined sieve or colander set over a bowl drain yogurt, covered and chilled, at least 8 hours and up to 1 day. Discard liquid in bowl and in a food processor pulse yogurt with remaining dip ingredients and salt and pepper to taste until herbs are finely chopped and yogurt is pale green. Dip may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
- Have ready a bowl of ice and cold water. Trim asparagus and peas. In a large saucepan of boiling salted water blanch asparagus 1 minute and transfer with tongs to ice water to stop cooking. Drain asparagus well in a colander and pat dry. Return water in saucepan to a boil and blanch peas 30 seconds. Drain peas in a sieve and plunge into ice water to stop cooking. Drain peas well and pat dry. Asparagus and peas may be blanched 1 day ahead and chilled in a sealable plastic bag. Cut cucumbers lengthwise into spears.
- Drizzle oil over dip and serve with vegetables.
Tips:
- Choose fresh and crisp vegetables for the best flavor and texture.
- Cut the vegetables into uniform pieces so that they cook evenly.
- Blanch the vegetables in boiling water for a few minutes to preserve their color and nutrients.
- Make sure the herb-garlic dip is well chilled before serving.
- Garnish the dish with fresh herbs or a sprinkle of black pepper for extra flavor.
Conclusion:
Asparagus, cucumber, and sugar snap peas with herb-garlic dip is a light and refreshing side dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With its vibrant colors and delicious flavors, this dish is sure to be a hit at your next gathering. Enjoy!
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