spring asparagus galette from smitten kitchen

  • 1 pound asparagus
  • Kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup (125 grams) ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup (45 grams) grated gruyere, comte, or gouda cheese
  • 1/4 cup (30 grams) grated parmesan or pecorino cheese
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • Red pepper flakes or freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 large egg or egg yolk (optional, for shine)

Make the crust: Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Sprinkle butter over dough and using a pastry blender or your fingertips, work it into the flour until the mixture resembles small peas. Sprinkle sour cream and 3 tablespoons of water over the mixture and stir/mash it together to combine; it should form large clumps; add last tablespoon water if it does not. Use your hands to bring it together into a single mass. Transfer dough to a large square of parchment paper, patting it into a flatter packet, and wrap it tightly. Chilling it in the fridge until firm, 1 to 2 hours or up to 4 days. You can hasten the firming process along in the freezer, for about 20 minutes.

Make the filling: Hold the asparagus by the tough end (no need to snap it off) and cut the tips into 1-inch segments and the rest of the spears into very thin slices on a sharp angle. In a large bowl, toss with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and set aside for 30 minutes. 

In a small bowl, combine ricotta, gruyere, parmesan, garlic, a pinch of salt, and pepper to taste and set aside.

Drain asparagus in a colander and pat it dry on paper towels. Return it to the empty bowl and toss with olive oil, lemon zest, and pepper to taste. (No need to salt because it will be well-seasoned from the salting step.)

Assemble galette: Heat oven to 400°F. Unwrap firm crust dough and line a large baking sheet with the parchment paper that it was wrapped in. On a floured counter, roll the dough out into a large round-ish shape, about 14 inches across. Gently transfer it to the parchment paper in the pan. Spread ricotta mixture over center, leaving a 3-inch border bare. Spoon asparagus over ricotta layer. Fold the border over the filling, pleating the edge to make it fit. The center will be open.

For a darker, glossier crust, beat an egg or just a yolk with 1 teaspoon of water and brush it over the crust. 

Bake galette: For 30 to 35 minutes, until the crust is deeply golden. Serve warm, in wedges.

Do ahead: This galette keeps in the fridge for up to one week. It’s good at room temperature but even better warm, so the cheese is all stretchy again.

Asparagus and Gruyere Quiche from Martha

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • onion sliced into strips or 1 leek sliced into thin rounds
  • Coarse salt and ground pepper
  • 1 pound asparagus, tough ends removed, thinly sliced on the diagonal
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 1/4 cups half-and-half
  • Ground nutmeg
  • 9-10 inch pie crust
  • 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese (4 ounces)
  1. 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in lowest position. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium. Add onion and asparagus; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until asparagus is crisp-tender, 6 to 8 minutes; let cool. Watch: 
  2. 2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, 1/2 teaspoon salt, teaspoon pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Place pie crust on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with cheese; top with asparagus mixture. Pour egg mixture on top.
  3. 3. Bake until center of quiche is just set, 50 to 60 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Instant Pot French Onion Soup from pressureluckcooking.com

  • 3 tablespoons (1/4 stick) of salted butter
  • 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons of light brown sugar
  • 4 big onions (I used 1 of each: Vidalia/Sweet, Red, Yellow and Spanish)
  • 4 cups of veggie broth
  • 1 teaspoon dry thyme
  • 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce (not shown in the video but I do add this)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
  • Croutons (you can buy a small bag of your flavor choice in any market or make your own)
  • Provolone and Swiss/Gruyere Slices
  • Paprika for presentation
  1. Cut the onions so they are halved and then slice into strips (don’t dice!) and set aside in a bowl.
  2. Put the Instant Pot on Sauté and melt the butter and oil until it sizzles.
  3. Add the onions and brown sugar and stir regularly for about 10-15 minutes or until the onions have cooked down by about half and have become translucent and have a pasta-like consistency. Make sure they aren’t too firm or too mushy!
  4. Add the broth, red wine, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, bay leaf, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Give it a stir and secure the lid. Hit “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” for 8 minutes. Quick release when done. Preheat your oven to broil while quick releasing. Taste the soup (but be careful – It’ll be hot!) and feel free to add additional salt and pepper as you see fit. But I think it’s perfect as is!
  5. Ladle the soup into the crocks until it’s just below the brim. Layer the croutons on top of the soup so that it serves as a foundation for the cheese. Seal with 1-2 slices of provolone (depending on how wide your crock is. Mine needs 2 to cover it properly but many will only need 1). And then layer a slice of Swiss or some shredded Gruyere. Leave some a little over the edges so when it bakes, it coats some of the side of the crock. Peeling the cheese off while eating is one of the best parts of the french onion soup experience! Sprinkle lightly with some paprika.
  6. Place the crock on a baking tray lined with tin foil and pop into the oven for 5 mins or until the top begins to bubble, turns slightly brown and forms a cheese-like crust.

Cheesy Potato Breakfast Bake

  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
  • 3 cloves garlic (peeled, thinly sliced)
  • 5 sprigs thyme
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 9 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 cups Gruyere (grated)
  • 6 cups shredded frozen potatoes (thawed)
  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)
  • Preheat the oven to 450ºF. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  • In a large bowl, toss together the tomatoes, garlic, thyme, olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread out evenly onto the prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until tomatoes slightly charred. Set aside to cool slightly.
  • Reduce the heat in oven to 350ºF.
  • Butter a 9×13-inch casserole dish. In a large bowl, add the eggs, milk and mustard. Whisk until blended. Fold in the gruyere, shredded potatoes, and oven roasted tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the mixture into the buttered casserole dish.
  • Place in oven for 35-40 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
  • Tip: This casserole can be assembled and refrigerated 24 hours in advance.

Caramelized Onion and Butternut Squash Tart from food52.com

  • ab355b42-4d20-4439-b905-c7f9e0d8a340--unspecifiedrecipe pastry dough (see below)
  • large butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
  • tablespoon olive oil
  • large yellow onions, halved and sliced
  • tablespoons unsalted butter
  • eggs
  • ounces crème fraîche
  • ounces Gruyère, grated
  • ounces Parmesan, grated
  • teaspoon sea salt
  • teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 4sprigs thyme
  1. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions, thyme sprigs, and 1/2 teaspoon salt, stirring to mix. Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until dark golden brown, about 45 minutes. Remove thyme stems.
  2. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 450° F. Toss butternut squash with olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt and spread out on baking sheet. Bake until browned and very soft, stirring once, about 40 minutes.
  3. Reduce oven heat to 350° F. Roll dough out until thin and press into a well-greased 10-inch tart pan. Prick all over with a fork and bake in oven 10 minutes.
  4. In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, crème fraîche, gruyère, Parmesan, and black pepper.
  5. Spread caramelized onions in bottom of tart and top with butternut squash. Pour gruyère mixture over the squash, making sure to spread it evenly throughout the tart.
  6. Bake until golden brown and cooked through, about 30 to 40 minutes.
Pastry Dough

  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • stick butter
  • tablespoons ice water
  1. Cut butter into 1-tablespoon pieces and freeze for 10 minutes.
  2. Mix flour and salt in food processor or large bowl.
  3. If using food processor, add butter and mix until mixture resembles small pea-sized balls. If mixing by hand, work quickly, mixing the butter in with your hands until it forms small pea-sized balls.
  4. Add in ice water and mix just until dough forms and comes together. Form into disk, wrap in plastic, and place in fridge for 20 minutes.