The Botanical Lattice Appetizer (Printable)

Crisp asparagus and fresh chives woven into a lattice, highlighted by sweet mixed berries and olive oil drizzle.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables & Herbs

01 - 16 medium asparagus spears, trimmed
02 - 16 fresh chive stems, long

→ Fruits

03 - ½ cup blueberries
04 - ½ cup raspberries
05 - ½ cup small strawberries, halved if large
06 - ½ cup golden berries, halved if large

→ Seasoning

07 - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
08 - ¼ teaspoon flaky sea salt
09 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Method:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add asparagus and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until bright green and tender. Immediately transfer to an ice bath to halt cooking, then dry thoroughly.
02 - Dip chive stems in hot water for 5 seconds to soften, then cool in ice water and pat dry.
03 - Arrange 8 asparagus spears parallel and evenly spaced on a large platter. Weave 8 more spears perpendicularly over and under to form a grid pattern.
04 - Tie chive stems gently around each crossing point of the asparagus grid to hold it together.
05 - Place a mixture of blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and golden berries into the open squares formed by the lattice.
06 - Drizzle olive oil over the lattice, sprinkle with flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper just before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen when it actually takes less than thirty minutes.
  • The contrast between tender asparagus, sweet fruit, and bright herbs creates flavors that surprise every bite.
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble right before guests arrive, which means you're actually relaxed when they get there.
02 -
  • Don't skip the ice bath after blanching—those extra seconds of cold water are what keeps the asparagus snappy instead of limp.
  • Tie the chives loosely enough that you're not crushing the asparagus, but securely enough that everything holds together when you move the platter.
03 -
  • Blanch your asparagus the same day but don't salt it until right before serving—salt draws out moisture that can make the spears weep onto the platter.
  • Keep everything on chilled plates or a cool platter; warm surfaces will make the whole arrangement soften and lose its architectural integrity.
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