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Asparagus Mimosa

By Rebeccah Marsters

Published on February 5, 2014

Time

45 minutes

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Asparagus Mimosa

Ingredients

2 pounds thin asparagus, trimmedSalt and pepper 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon minced shallot 1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon honey 2 large hard-cooked eggs 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and chopped

Before You Begin

Use asparagus spears that are between 1/4 and 1/2 inch in diameter.

Instructions

  1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Fill large bowl halfway with ice and water. Add asparagus and 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water and cook until just tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Drain asparagus and transfer to ice bath. Drain again and pat dry with paper towels. Wipe out bowl. (The prepared asparagus can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.)
  2. Whisk vinegar, shallot, tarragon, mustard, honey, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together in now-empty bowl. Halve 1 egg and add yolk to bowl, reserving white. Mash yolk with fork until incorporated into vinegar mixture. Slowly whisk in oil until incorporated; stir in capers. Add asparagus and toss to coat.
  3. Grate remaining 1 egg and reserved white on small holes of box grater, then season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Transfer asparagus to serving platter and top with grated eggs. Serve.
Asparagus Mimosa

Asparagus Mimosa

Headshot of Rebeccah Marsters
By Rebeccah Marsters
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Time

45 minutes

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

2 pounds thin asparagus, trimmed
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
2 large hard-cooked eggs
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and chopped

Ingredients

2 pounds thin asparagus, trimmed
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
2 large hard-cooked eggs
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and chopped

Ingredients

2 pounds thin asparagus, trimmed
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
2 large hard-cooked eggs
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and chopped

Why This Recipe Works

This old-school dish combines tender steamed asparagus spears with mustardy tarragon vinaigrette and shreds of hard-cooked egg. Blanching and shocking the asparagus proved easier than steaming, and patting it dry was necessary for the dressing to adhere. Mashing one of the hard-cooked yolks into our dressing made it thick enough to fully coat the spears, and shredding the eggs on the small holes of a box grater produced the perfect fluffy texture.

Before You Begin

Use asparagus spears that are between 1/4 and 1/2 inch in diameter.

Instructions

  1. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Fill large bowl halfway with ice and water. Add asparagus and 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water and cook until just tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Drain asparagus and transfer to ice bath. Drain again and pat dry with paper towels. Wipe out bowl. (The prepared asparagus can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.)
  2. Whisk vinegar, shallot, tarragon, mustard, honey, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together in now-empty bowl. Halve 1 egg and add yolk to bowl, reserving white. Mash yolk with fork until incorporated into vinegar mixture. Slowly whisk in oil until incorporated; stir in capers. Add asparagus and toss to coat.
  3. Grate remaining 1 egg and reserved white on small holes of box grater, then season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Transfer asparagus to serving platter and top with grated eggs. Serve.

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