Grilled Asparagus with Sticky Walnuts, Celery Leaves, Blue Cheese and Orange Dressing

Directions

1. Pre heat oven to 180c. Toast the walnuts on baking paper for 6–7 minutes. Pour the sugar into a heavy based saucepan over a moderate temperature. Stir the sugar with a wooden spoon as soon as the sugar begins to melt. Keep stirring until all the sugar has melted and is dark golden colour like honey. Add the walnuts to the sugar, quickly stirring and coating each piece with the sugar mixture.
2. As soon as the walnuts are coated with the sugar mixture spread them out in a single layer on a sheet of baking paper. Sprinkle the nuts with salt and allow to cool.
3. This next part can be done on a barbeque flat plate or a fry pan. Heat the pan over a moderate to high temperature, add a couple of teaspoons of oil and cook the asparagus for 1 minute on each side. Do the same for the spring onions until they soften and set aside. Combine the orange zest with the juice, olive oil and red wine vinegar and season with salt and pepper. To assemble the salad, tie up the grilled asparagus with the spring onions and lay onto a platter. Scatter over the walnuts, blue cheese and the young celery leaves. Pour over the dressing then serve.

Recipe developed exclusively for Your Local Fruit Shop by Brisbane chef Dominique Rizzo.