Asparagus And Parma Ham Recipes

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WRAPPED IN PARMA HAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/fan180C/gas 6. Cook the asparagus spears in salted boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain, refresh in cold water, then drain again. Set aside.
• Using a pestle and mortar, crush the mint with the olive oil and lemon zest. Add to the asparagus and stir gently to coat.
• Make bundles of 3 spears and wrap each in a Parma ham slice. Place in a baking tray and bake in the oven for 10 minutes until the ham is crisp.

CRISPY PARMA HAM AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the eggs in a pan of boiling water for exactly 8 minutes. Sit a steamer or colander over the eggs, put in the asparagus, cover and cook for 4-5 minutes until just tender - alternatively, cook in a pan of water for 2-3 minutes.
• Drain the eggs and asparagus and cool under cold water.
• Melt the butter in a small pan than, with a wire whisk, beat in some lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
• Heat a ridged griddle pan. Cook the slices of parma ham, two at a time in the hot pan for 30 seconds on each side. Set aside on kitchen paper. Cook the asparagus in the hot pan for 2-3 minutes to give light bar marks.
• Shell and halve the eggs and arrange on four plates with the asparagus, topped with the crispy parma ham. Drizzle over the lemon butter dressing. Scatter over some shaved parmesan and top with a good grind of black pepper. A glass or two of chilled white wine is the perfect accompaniment to this dish.

PARMA WRAPPED ASPARAGUS WITH BLUE CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a pan to medium high heat.
• Wrap each asparagus with one piece of ham.
• Add a bit of oil to the pan and fry each asparagus until the ham is golden brown.
• You may have to do two batches, keep the first batch warm in the oven.
• Put the second batch in the oven and throw in the onions over medium high heat and cook them a couple minutes until golden.
• Deglaze the lot with about 1/4 - 1/2 cup good dry sherry scraping up all the goodness on the bottom then let it reduce.
• Add the cream, until very warm, then throw in the cheese until just melted.
• Salt and pepper it to taste and serve immediately drizzled over the asparagus and lettuce.

PARMA HAM & ASPARAGUS RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat Olive Oil in a large saucepan and saute onion until soft.
• Add rice and continue to cook for 2 minutes.
• Add 1/2 cup stock and stir until absorbed. Continue adding stock in 1/2 cup increments waiting until stock is absorbed before adding the next 1/2 cup.
• After adding the last 1/2 cup add the asparagus pieces and cook until stock absorbed.
• Stir in Philadelphia until melted and then parma ham until heated through and finally the parsley.
• Serve sprinkled with parmesan cheese.