Pancetta Wrapped Asparagus
This is a very simple, but surprisingly elegant and extremely delicious little dish. Alone, it's wonderful, but you could also lean 3 of these onto a nice salad, with a goats' cheese vinaigrette, a couple of toasted pine nuts and a grilled fig (just one!), and you'd have something impressive!
It's quick and easy to prepare. The only things you need are asparagus, pancetta (Italian BACON!!), oil, salt and pepper!
I've left this simple, but there are many things you could do with this. A light squeeze of orange juice, and a little orange zest tossed into the oil, would be just delightful! As would some herbs. Rosemary, perhaps? A few chili flakes for a back-of-the-throat kicker, if that's your thing ... This is also just excellent if you grill it, but ... be careful ... the pancetta wants to fall off. Be deliberate and clear in your movements and grill that stuff up! TASTY!
It's quick and easy to prepare. The only things you need are asparagus, pancetta (Italian BACON!!), oil, salt and pepper!
I've left this simple, but there are many things you could do with this. A light squeeze of orange juice, and a little orange zest tossed into the oil, would be just delightful! As would some herbs. Rosemary, perhaps? A few chili flakes for a back-of-the-throat kicker, if that's your thing ... This is also just excellent if you grill it, but ... be careful ... the pancetta wants to fall off. Be deliberate and clear in your movements and grill that stuff up! TASTY!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time25 mins
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 181.035kcal
Ingredients
- 1 bunch asparagus spears (about 20 spears)
- 2 tbsp light olive oil
- 20 slices pancetta sliced into strips
- salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400 F.
- Place your baking tray in the oven, to heat up.
- Remove the fibrous and tough base of the asparagus spear. I usually just cut the base off the entire bundle, but many "snap" the spears in half, under the assumption that the asparagus knows where its own sweet spot lies ... your call. Snap 'em or cut 'em. The base is tough, but ... makes for a good soup!
- Toss your asparagus in a little oil, salt and pepper. Coat them well and evenly.
- Wrap each spear in pancetta. Set them on a plate, with the seam side down.
- Remove the hot baking tray from the oven and quickly place your asparagus spears on the tray, with the seam side down. Do it swiftly, before the tray cools off and the asparagus just steams. You want to hear that "searing" sound ...
- Place the tray in the oven. Bake for 8 to 14 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus.
- Remove from the oven and serve!
Nutrition
Serving: 4g | Calories: 181.035kcal | Carbohydrates: 2.3175g | Protein: 8.47g | Fat: 14.6g | Fiber: 1.27g