Asparagus with Bacon & Pine Nuts
Asparagus is one of my favorite spring time vegetables. And while it is available all year long, flown in from far away points, in the spring, when local and fresh, it’s crazy good. I know that asparagus brings some challenges with wine pairings, but as a food pairing it’s near the top of the list. It goes great with seafood, chicken, pork and beef, and it’s great prepared simply or with some extras. In this recipe video, I use a few of those “extras” to jazz the asparagus up a bit. Bacon is a naturally combination (you may have seen prosciutto wrapped asparagus spears); and the pine nuts add a texture and nutty quality that I love. Hope you enjoy it.
Recipe Overview & Keys to Success
There isn’t much to this recipe, just be careful of the following:
- Don’t overcook the asparagus. It becomes soggy and limp, and even a bit bitter/sulfuric tasting when overdone. Try blanching the spears so that you get them just tender
- Make sure you crisp up the bacon on it’s own. Making bacon lardons is easy, but they need to be cooked alone in the pan – once you add the asparagus the moisture will start making them soggy; so add them at just the last month
- I like to toast the pine nuts. Toasting them gives them a richer flavor, and crispier texture
- Make sure you season properly – after tasting. Remember the bacon is salty so factor that into your final seasoning
Ingredients for Asparagus with Bacon & Pine Nuts (for 2)
- 1 piece of thick slice bacon cut into lardons
- 6 – 8 spears of asparagus
- 1 – 2 tablespoons of toasted pine nuts
- 1 lemon (for the juice)
Asparagus with Bacon & Pine Nuts
- Blanch and shock the asparagus; set aside in a cool place
- In the video, I cut the asparagus into bit size pieces as I like to match small pieces of bacon, to small pine nuts, to small asparagus; but you can leave whole if you like
- Add the bacon to a sauté pan and cook until crisp
- Add the blanched asparagus and sauté over high heat until they are up to temperature
- Add the toasted pine nuts, and a small squeeze of lemon juice
- Toss, taste, and season with salt and pepper as needed
It’s a simple as that and you have a great vegetable side dish. I think you’re really going to love this one, and I hope you make it soon. Leave me a comment and let me know how it goes.
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