Asparagus is here! I'd like to shout it from the roof top, wear a crown of asparagus stalks and parade around town with an asparagus scepter! But instead, I am in my kitchen thinking up new ways to eat one of my all time favorite vegetables. For me, asparagus is the one vegetable that signifies the heart of springtime. I wait for it patiently every year. The season is brief and glorious and though my pee may have a funny odor for a month, it is well worth it to incorporate these delicious tender stalks into most everything I cook.
The most important thing about this recipe is to not over cook the asparagus. It should be tender but not mushy. My favorite way to do this is to cook the asparagus on a hot grill but a large cast iron pan works almost as well. With the help of the spongy, flavorful and crisp bread from Noisette Pastry Kitchen, the flavorful, creamy, spreadable Petit Suisse Cheese from La Mariposa, a perfectly soft-boiled egg from Moondog's Farm and a spring of pea shoots Groundwork Organics, the asparagus from Circle H Farm sings and shines. Enjoy this as a breakfast, brunch, or light dinner.
Use a slotted spoon to carefully lower the eggs into the pot.
Cook covered for 6-7 minutes (if you like a firmer yolk, go towards 7 or even 8, if you like it really runny, 6 is perfect) and transfer the eggs to bowl of ice water to chill.
For the Asparagus
Break the tough, fibrous end of the asparagus off using your hands to snap it, it will show you where it wants to break.
Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat, once it is very hot, add in the olive oil and asparagus stalks. Make sure not to crowd them, they should lay flat in the pan.
Cook for about 5 minutes, shaking the pan to roll the asparagus stalks so they cook evenly on all sides.
To see if your asparagus is done cooking, remove one stalk from the pan and shake it. It should bend easily from side to side by not flop over completely. Take a bite, make sure it is tender and yet still has a nice toothsomeness to it. The asparagus should be warm when you eat the toast.
To assemble
You have a choice here, you can throw your bread in the toaster or you can pan fry it in butter. I personally like to pan fry it in butter on both sides until it is golden brown and crispy.
Smear the Petit Suisse cheese generously over the toast.
Lay the stalks of asparagus over the cheese and sprinkle them with sea salt.
Peel the soft boiled eggs and cut them in half. Lay them on top of the asparagus. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on each egg. Feel free to slice the egg any way you like, If you want to quarter it or cut it into circles for easier eating, go for it.
Top with fresh herbs and pea shoots, cut it in half on a bias and have your self a damn fine piece of toast.
