Green Asparagus with Basil Pesto

Name: Green Asparagus with Basil Pesto
Yield: 3 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 500 grams Green asparagus; 3 tbsp and plus Basil pesto; 1 tbsp Salt for cooking asparagus; 1 bowlful Cold water (with ice, preferably); 1 tbsp Olive oil; 1 pinch Black pepper; 1 Shaved parmesan cheese, optional

cookpad.japan @cookpad_jp

It was really nice when I tried this for the first time. Peter Bunner, the chef, once recommended drying the asparagus with a little olive oil in the oven after blanching. I tried it. He didn't mention that he patted them dry after soaking them in cold water, or write down the temperature of the oven, so I included those things here after some experimenting.

I learned this method of 'drying' asparagus with olive oil in the oven for 5 minutes from a chef's magazine column.
I usually soak them in cold water and pat dry but when I tried his way the asparagus tasted better. Do not overcook the asparagus. Recipe by Brandy

cookpad.japan @cookpad_jp

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Ingredients

3 servings

500 gramsGreen asparagus
3 tbspand plus Basil pesto
1 tbspSalt for cooking asparagus
1bowlful Cold water (with ice, preferably)
1 tbspOlive oil
1 pinchBlack pepper
1Shaved parmesan cheese, optional

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Steps

1

Toast the pine nuts in a frying pan and make the basil pesto. You can shave the cheese to finish the dish instead of using it in the sauce.
2

Cut off about 1 cm from the bottoms of the asparagus. Rinse with running water. Prepare a bowlful of cold water with ice. Preheat the oven to 180℃.
3

Salt the boiled water (use 1 tablespoon of salt per 1000 ml of water) and bowl the asparagus until al dente. Prepare a tea towel.
4

Remove the asparagus from the boiling water and place immediately in cold water. Move to a tea towel or paper towel. Pat dry lightly.
5

Arrange the asparagus on a baking tray and drizzle on 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Bake for 5 minutes in an oven at 180℃.
6

Pour the basil pesto onto a serving plate and place the asparagus on top. Serve with black pepper and shaved parmesan cheese.
7

I don't have a special asparagus pot so I cook the asparagus upright in a deep pot for 20 seconds first and then lay them down to cook further.
8

If you like melted cheese on top, microwave for 1 minute at Step 6.
9

I used this basil pesto for the white asparagus but I think it works better with green asparagus.