Ingredients for Carpaccio:
1 Cup cooked and sliced asparagus, cut on a bias into 1/2-inch pieces
2 Medium red and golden beets (you can use small beets to add texture to the plate)
2 Tablespoons chopped chives
3 Tablespoons walnut oil
3 Tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
Ingredients for Bleu Cheese Mousse:
2 Ounces bleu cheese, crumbled
1 Ounce cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup heavy cream
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Combine the bleu cheese and cream cheese together in a small bowl and set aside.
Wash the beets under cold water to remove any dirt, then wrap in a large piece of aluminum foil. Set the pouch on a baking sheet and bake until easily pieced with a fork, about 45-55 minutes.
Place the heavy cream in a chilled metal mixing bowl. Using electric mixer, whip the cream into soft peaks. Use a spatula to fold a small bit of the whipped cream into the bleu cheese mixture to lighten it. Then add the remaining whipped cream, and gently fold until no streaks remain. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
In a small bowl, combine the chives and white balsamic vinegar. Slowly drizzle in the walnut oil, whisking continuously, to create a vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Peel the skin off of the beets once they are cool enough to handle. Slice the beets very thinly on a mandolin and be sure to wear safety gloves when using the mandolin. You want them to be paper-thin. Slice enough for 4-5 slices per serving. Be sure to keep some beets in quarter cuts. Wear gloves to prevent staining your hands.
Arrange 4-5 slices of beets in a circle or in a row on a plate. Use 2 spoons to form a football-shaped dollop of the bleu cheese mousse. Set this in the center of the beets. Sprinkle the asparagus pieces around the plate, then drizzle with the walnut vinaigrette. Add edible flowers, microgreens for added flare.