Asparagus roll ups can be made in many different ways. You can roll the asparagus spears up in sliced beef or ham, in white bread, in phyllo dough, in slices of Parmesan cheese or in puff pastry. All of them are equally good, yet give a different flavor. For a spring party when asparagus is abundant, you can make several different kinds if you wish.
This elegant appetizer is equally at home at a bridge game, a socialite luncheon or at a backyard barbecue. Be sure to make enough for everyone. Asparagus roll ups can be enjoyed as is or you can serve them with a dip, depending on the recipe you choose.
Display your asparagus roll ups on a rectangular platter. You can stack them up like logs if you have a lot or you can lay them out, alternating the tips or how far over they go on the platter. Play with the placement a bit, if you need to decide what works best for your table.
How to Choose Asparagus
Since asparagus is in season but once a year, some of us do not get much practice in choosing the best bunch. Look at the stalks. They should be firm and without blemishes. Look at the tips of the spears. They should be tightly closed. Tips that are opening will be tough. Some people like thin spears and others like fat ones. This is entirely a matter of preference. Thin spears tend to have a young, grassy taste while thicker ones are a bit more succulent.
Imported asparagus may be available in your market all year long, or you may only see it from March through June. This tasty vegetable is often the first real green taste of spring that many of us remember, so go all out, and enjoy it!
Recipe for Asparagus Roll Ups
This elegant snack fits in on any occasion. Do not be afraid to experiment!
What You Need
2 sheets puff pastry, defrosted
2 ounces soft herbed cheese of your choice
12 spears of asparagus, trimmed
How to Make It
Heat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Trim the woody ends off of your asparagus.
Unroll your puff pastry and spread a good coating of the soft cheese on one side of each sheet. Cut each sheet into 6 strips, measuring approximately 1 inch by 9 inches.
Lay an asparagus spear at one end of a pastry strip on an angle. Roll the spear up so the dough wraps in a diagonal pattern. When you are done, it should look like a spiral. Let the asparagus stick out a little on each end of the pastry. Repeat with all the asparagus spears.
Place your wrapped asparagus on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Put into the oven, let them bake until the pastry is golden brown, and puffed. This takes around 15 minutes. Serve these appetizers warm or at room temperature.
Make as many as you need by simply increasing the amount of asparagus and puff pastry.
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