Vargr
Vargr
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Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
Originally done in the smoker for Vargr's Christmas holiday meal, this will work baked or broiled as well. You'll lose the smoke flavoring in the oven, of course (though wuff gives a suggestion if you want to try it – the theory is sound but wuff hasn't done it himself). However, even without the smoke, this is a robust and fully flavored side dish for special events.
Give it a try!
Ingredients:
Fresh asparagus spears, 3-5 (depending on size) X3 per guest
Prosciutto slices, 3 per guest
Good olive oil
granulated garlic
(optional – liquid smoke (hickory))
Directions:
1) Cut to bottoms off your asparagus spears, leaving the tender tips, about 5-6 inches long (save the rest for cream of asparagus soup or other dishes).
2) In a bowl or a plate with raised edges, drizzle a bit of good olive oil over the asparagus tips. This is a good time to experiment with flavored olive oils, if you have them! Toss or roll the spears around to coat them all.
3) Sprinkle a wee bit of granulated garlic on the oil-coated spears
4) Asparagus comes in many sizes, from very thin to older, larger spears. Group 3-5 spears, depending on size, in a bundle. You want a group between nickel and quarter in diameter. Make sure all the tips point the same way!
5) Wrap a slice of prosciutto around the bundle like a barber pole stripe, starting at the tips. Pull it kind of tight – it will hold together like cling-wrap.
6) Three bundles per person is a nice serving, but go for more or less depending on your crowd
7) Cook in smoker at about 200 degrees for approximately 90 minutes (smaller, thinner spears will take less time). Remove when spears are nice and tender.
Serve immediately!
OVEN VERSION:
7) Place wrapped bundles onto a cookie pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake in pre-heated 225 degree oven for about an hour. Check after 45 minutes for done-ness.
Tip - If you still want more smoke flavoring (the prosciutto will definitely add some!) from the oven version, put a few drops of liquid smoke into the olive oil before sprinkling that on the spears.
The prosciutto has VERY strong flavors, and can over-power the asparagus if you don't use enough spears. This isn't necessarily a bad thing (prosciutto tastes GOOD), but this is why you bundle more than one spear in a wrap!
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