Easy asparagus recipe with creamy aioli dip
We show you how to cook asparagus in a pan and serve as a salivating starter
Image: Media 10
Nothing beats the taste of fresh English asparagus tossed in butter and seasoning and served with a squeeze of lemon. To transform it into a sublime starter, serve with a dollop of creamy aioli, made with preserved lemons and flavoured with paprika.
Prep 15-20 mins cook 5 mins serves 6
Ingredients
- 2 egg yolks
- 100ml olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
- 200ml vegetable oil 1 preserved lemon, halved and deseeded
- ½ tsp paprika ½ garlic clove, crushed
- Juice and zest of ½ lemon
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3 bundles of asparagus
- Crusty bread, to serve
Method
- Put the egg yolks in a bowl and beat with a balloon whisk or electric beater to break down the yolks.
- Drizzle a small amount of the olive oil and vegetable oil onto the egg yolks and whisk in, adding a bit more, little by little, until the mixture forms an emulsion. As soon as it has thickened and looks glossy, you can add the oil in slightly bigger quantities. Take care not to add too much in one go or the mixture will separate.
- Finely chop the preserved lemon and add to the mayonnaise with the paprika, garlic, lemon zest and juice. Fold everything together and season with salt to taste.
- Prepare the asparagus by trimming about 1cm of the stalk from each end. Use a vegetable peeler and, starting from the end, peel off about 2.5cm.
- Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the asparagus for 3-4 minutes until just tender. Drain well, toss in a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Arrange the asparagus on six starter plates, spoon the aioli into a bowl to have alongside, and serve with crusty bread.
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