Recipe and image by Kathy Paterson
At first glance you might think these look like a bit of a fiddle to make, but believe me, they are so worth it. The perfect snack and one that is on top of my list as soon as asparagus appears.
Makes 12 (2 per person)
12 thick (fat) asparagus spears, woody ends trimmed
olive oil for brushing
80g sliced pancetta
250g cream cheese (not lite cream cheese), softened
12 slices white sandwich sliced bread (preferably slightly stale), crusts removed
125g butter, melted
Heat a barbecue hot plate to medium-hot. Lightly brush the asparagus spears with oil then put onto the hot plate. Cook for about 5 minutes until nearly tender. Remove and sprinkle with salt and a little freshly ground pepper then set aside.
Put the pancetta slices on the hot plate and cook until just crisp. Remove to crumpled kitchen paper to drain excess fat.
Put the cream cheese in a bowl. Using your hands crumble in the pancetta.
Using your rolling pin, roll each bread slice to flatten. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on the bread slices. Put an asparagus spear at the edge (the one nearest to you), of each bread slice. Trim excess asparagus (these are the cook’s perk). Roll up, quite tightly into a cigar shape and press the top edge to secure well.
Wipe excess pancetta fat from hot plate, if necessary and lower the heat to medium.
Skim the white foam from the surface of the melted butter then pour the gorgeous dark golden butter into a small bowl leaving the milk solids behind.
Brush each asparagus roll up with butter and put on the hot plate. Turn regularly to brown and crisp the bread. Leave for a minute or two to cool slightly before eating.
Tips
- To add a little heat sprinkle roll up with togarashi (Japanese red pepper mix), once crisp.
- Use bacon instead of pancetta.
- Leave out the pancetta and season the cream cheese with toasted and finely chopped walnuts. Or add chopped herbs such as parsley, chives and French tarragon.
- Turn the bread crusts into breadcrumbs and freeze.
- You can blanch the asparagus spears rather than cook on the hot plate.
- Put the asparagus roll ups in a large baking tray lined with baking paper and put under a very hot oven grill. Turn to grill on all sides and watch as they are grilling.