Aseasonal recipe from the Organic Trade Board who has collaborated with renowned chef, Tom Aikens. With the key ingredients in this recipe just coming perfectly into season.

Cooking Time: 50 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

Pea pancakes

250g organic peas

1 pinch of salt

1 pinch of caster sugar

10g of cornflour 

25g of self-raising flour

½ tsp of baking powder

2 eggs, separated

1 tsp of caster sugar

3 spring onions, finely chopped

1 pinch of chopped chervil

1 pinch of chopped flat-leaf parsley 

salt

freshly ground black pepper

olive oil, for frying

Asparagus

20 organic asparagus spears, trimmed and bases peeled

olive oil

salt

freshly ground black pepper

Herb sabayon

1 egg

2 egg yolks

50ml of vegetable stock

½ lemon

100g of clarified butter

1 pinch of chopped chervil

1 pinch of chopped chives

1 pinch of chopped flat-leaf parsley

salt 

freshly ground black pepper

Poached eggs

8 organic eggs

white wine vinegar

salt

freshly ground black pepper

Equipment:

Food processor or blender

Blini pan

Method

  • Start by making the pea pancake batter. Blanch the peas for 2 minutes in a pan of boiling water with a pinch of salt and pinch of caster sugar. Drain and tip the peas into a food processor or blender
  • Sieve together the cornflour, self-raising flour and baking powder then add this to the food processor along with the egg yolks, teaspoon of sugar and some seasoning
  • Blend everything together to make a thick green purée
  • Place the egg whites in to a large mixing bowl and whisk together with a pinch of salt until light and airy. Gently fold in the pea purée, then stir through the chopped spring onions and herbs, adjusting the seasoning to taste
  • Preheat the oven to 170°C/gas mark 3½
  • You can either cook the pancakes one at a time in a single blini pan, or use several pans at once. Alternatively, the pancakes could be cooked by the spoonful in one large pan
  • Lightly oil the blini pan and spoon in the batter to create a thick pancake. Cook over a medium heat for a few minutes to set the base then transfer to the oven to finish cooking for another 5 minutes
  • Repeat so that you have 4 pancakes then keep warm until ready to serve
  • For the sabayon, place the egg and yolks in a mixing bowl along with the

stock and zest and juice of half a lemon

  • Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the asparagus for a few minutes or until tender (this will depend on the thickness of the stalks)
  • Place the sabayon bowl over the pan (making sure that it doesn’t touch the water) and start whisking over the heat to create a light and airy mixture
  • When fluffy, remove from the heat and slowly whisk in the clarified butter to create a thick sauce. Stir through the chopped herbs and season to taste
  • Drain the cooked asparagus, pat dry and season with a little oil, salt and pepper
  • To poach the eggs bring a large pan of fresh water to a simmer and stir in a little white wine vinegar to help the eggs set. Gently swirl the water to create a whirlpool effect and crack in the eggs (it can help to break the eggs into small cups first, then tip gently into the water)
  • Allow to cook for 3-4 minutes until just set, then drain and season to taste
  • To serve, place a warm pea pancake on each plate, followed by 2 poached eggs and 5 spears of asparagus. Top with a generous spoonful of the herb sabayon

Created by Tom Aikens for The Organic Trade Board’s’Organic. Naturally Different’ campaign, courtesy of www.greatbritishchefs.com