Make Asparagus Wrapped in Bacon

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a widely cultivated crop native to most parts of Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. Only the young shoots of the asparagus plant are eaten. Once the tips, or buds, start to open the stalks can quickly become woody and unpalatable. Asparagus has been cultivated and eaten for thousands of years, and today it can be found in green, white and purple varieties.

Asparagus can be cooked in a variety of ways including steaming, grilling, boiling and even roasting. It can be enjoyed plain, with a sauce or seasonings or as a part of a stir fry or stew. Another way to prepare asparagus is to wrap it in bacon. Here's how to prepare asparagus wrapped in bacon.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lb (680g) asparagus, green or white, all about the same diameter
  • Bacon, center cut, thick cut
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper

Steps

  1. Prepare the asparagus.
    • Take about 1 1/2 lbs (680 g) of asparagus and remove the root ends so that the asparagus are all about 5 inches (13 cm) long.
    • Carefully wash each stalk of asparagus under cold running water to remove any dirt. Asparagus shoots grow up through the dirt so they can be quite dirty. Optionally, carefully peel the skins of the stalks with a peeler below the tips. The skin can be slightly bitter, so removing them can improve the overall taste of the dish.
    • Lightly dry the asparagus with a clean kitchen towel, then toss it with 1 tbsp. (15 ml) of good quality olive oil and season it lightly with salt and pepper.
  2. Prepare the bacon. Quickly count the number of asparagus spears. You need one strip of bacon to wrap each bundle of 4 to 5 asparagus spears. Divide the number of spears by 4 or 5 and use that number of bacon strips.
    • Lay the strips of center cut, thick cut bacon on a Put a Cookie Sheet in the Oven. Alternatively, trim the fatty ends from 4 strips of thick cut bacon and lay them on a baking sheet.
  3. Bake the bacon in a preheated 450ºF (230ºC) oven for about 10 minutes until partially cooked but not crisp.
    • Remove the bacon to a paper towel to allow it to drain and cool.
  4. Assemble the bundles. Lay one strip of bacon horizontally in front of you on a clean work surface. Lay 4 to 5 asparagus spears, bud ends all together, perpendicularly at one end of the bacon. The spears cut ends should be hang about 1/2 inch (1.5 cm) below the bacon.
    • Wrap the bacon tightly around the asparagus as you roll the asparagus bundle. Allow the bacon to wind its way up the asparagus but stop before you get to the tips. Lay the wrapped bundles, seam side down, on a cookie sheet or other transportable flat surface. Now you can either roast or grill the asparagus.
  5. Roast the asparagus bundles. Preheat the oven to 450ºF (230ºC). Place the asparagus on the flat top of a broiler pan with slots to allow the bacon to drain. When the oven is heated, place the asparagus in the oven and let it roast for about 10 minutes, slightly longer if the asparagus spears are thick. The bacon should be crisp and the asparagus tender.
  6. Grill the asparagus. Preheat the grill to medium high. When the grill has reached the appropriate heat level, transfer the bundles to the grill with tongs. Lay the bundles seam side down. Let them grill for about 5 minutes then turn the bundles and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Turn the heat down if you get flare-ups. The bacon should be crisp and the asparagus tender. Remove and serve immediately.
  7. Finished.



Tips

  • You can use thick asparagus stalks or thin; just be sure to lessen the cooking time if they're thin and add a minute or so if they're thicker. Try to use asparagus that is the same thickness when making this dish.
  • Instead of bacon, you can wrap the asparagus in thinly sliced prosciutto or pancetta. Prepare the asparagus as usual but eliminate the step of pre-cooking the bacon and move directly to wrapping the asparagus.
  • Only use fresh asparagus to make bacon wrapped asparagus. Frozen asparagus will be too flaccid and moist for this kind of cooking application.

Things You'll Need

  • Broiler pan and oven, or grill

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Sources and Citations

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