Asparagus And Prosciutto Crostini With Fonduta Recipes

CHEESE, PROSCIUTTO AND ASPARAGUS CRUSTED BUNDLES

Steps:

• Asparagus -- Pre cook the asparagus just 1 1/2 minutes in the microwave just lay flat on a paper towel and cover with a damp paper towel. Just to get a head start.
• Rolls -- Spread out the crescent rolls and press the pre cut seems together to form one large sheet. Cut in half top to bottom and then cup each half in 3 strips. Spread with some of the boursin or herb cheese. (Thin layer, not heavy).
• Wrap -- 4-5 asparagus spears with prosciutto. I like to alternate the spears going in different directions to make sure they cook evenly. Then wrap in the strips of crescent rolls a spiral pattern around the asparagus and prosciutto. Make sure you leave the tips and the very ends open (a inch or more) but the rest should be wrapped with the crescent roll.
• Bake -- Place the wrapped asparagus bundles on a cookie sheet lined with foil or parchment paper. Melt the butter in the microwave and brush with butter. Sprinkle with parmesan and bake in a 400 degree oven for 14-16 minutes until golden brown.

FETTUCCINE WITH PROSCIUTTO, ASPARAGUS, AND CREAM

Steps:

• Trim and peel the lower green portions of the asparagus. Cook whole in salted boiling water in a skillet just enough water to cover the asparagus. Only a few minutes to cook tender.
• RESERVE 1/2 cup of the water
• When cool enough to handle, cut the asparagus into 1/4" lengths.
• Pour 4 quarts of water into a large pot and place over a high heat (for pasta).
• In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and add the onion, cooking until it softens and turns a rich golden color.
• Stir in the sliced prosciutto and saute' until it has lost its raw color.
• Add the asparagus, raise the heat to medium-high and cook until it is lightly browned.
• Pour the reserved water in and cook until it has evaporated.
• Stir in the cream and cook, stirring frequently, until it has reduced by half. At this time taste for any salt requirements. Remove skillet from heat and set aside.
• When water for the pasta is boiling, and the sauce is off the heat, add 1 tablespoon of salt to the boiling water and drop in the pasta all at once, stirring well.
• When the pasta is cooked "al dente", drain it and toss it with the sauce, adding the grated cheese.
• Serve immediately.
• NOTE: Also good with: penne, fusilli corti, garganelli.

ASPARAGUS-FONTINA-PROSCIUTTO WRAPS

Steps:

• Saute or grill the asparagus until slightly tender. Let cool. Wrap each stalk with a slice of fontina and the prosciutto. Serve with an Aioli dipping sauce.
• Place the egg yolk, lemon juice, garlic, and salt into a food processor. Process until well blended. With the machine running, pour in the olive oil in a steady stream and process until the mixture thickens. Scrape into a bowl and squeeze a few more drops of lemon juice over the top, stir and set aside.

ASPARAGUS WITH PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• For asparagus, snap off tough ends of spears where they naturally give when bent. Place spears into 1-inch of boiling water. Cover the pan and cook asparagus for 3 or 4 minutes, until spears are just tender but remain bright green in color, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Drain and cold shock the spears in a colander under cool water. Return cooked asparagus to skillet and coat with lemon juice and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.
• Remove bundles of several spears at a time from the pan and wrap with sliced prosciutto. Pile assembled bundles on a serving plate.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• If the asparagus are thick, peel them halfway up the stalks. Cut off and discard the bottom third of the asparagus. Place the asparagus in a single layer on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 10 minutes, until the stalks are just tender. Meanwhile, place the prosciutto in a single layer on another sheet pan and roast in the same oven for 5 minutes.
• Melt the butter in a medium (10-inch) saute pan over medium heat and wait until the bubbles almost subside. Crack the eggs into the skillet, keeping them separate, if possible. Sprinkle the eggs generously with salt and pepper and cook over medium heat until the whites are cooked but the yolks are still runny. Don't turn them over!
• Arrange the asparagus on 3 plates. Place 2 slices of prosciutto on top of each pile, drizzle with hollandaise, and place a fried egg on top of the prosciutto. Serve hot.
• Place the egg yolks, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in the jar of a blender and process on low for 15 seconds. Melt the butter in a small saucepan until it is sizzling hot. Remove the small clear insert in the top of the blender. With the blender on low, slowly add the hot butter to the egg and lemon mixture and blend for 30 seconds, until the sauce is very thick. Use immediately.

ASPARAGUS-PROSCIUTTO BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Thinly slice a baguette; arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake at 425 degrees F until lightly golden, about 7 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Toss halved asparagus spears with olive oil, salt and pepper on a baking sheet. Roast at 450 degrees F until slightly crisp, 7 minutes. Spread softened butter on the toast rounds. Top with sliced prosciutto and the roasted asparagus.

ASPARAGUS AND PROSCIUTTO CROSTINI WITH FONDUTA

Steps:

• Make fonduta:
• In a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a pan of simmering water melt butter. Add Fontina and milk and heat, stirring with a whisk, until cheese begins to melt. Whisk in yolks and cook, stirring constantly with whisk, until smooth and thickened slightly, about 7 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat and remove bowl from pan. Stir sauce 1 minute while water in pan cools slightly. Return bowl to pan and keep sauce warm over hot water (off heat), whisking occasionally to eliminate skin that forms on surface.
• Preheat broiler.
• On a baking sheet toast bread about 3 inches from heat, turning, until golden, about 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Rub tops of crostini with cut side of garlic and brush with oil. Season crostini lightly with salt. Divide crostini among 4 plates and top with prosciutto.
• In a deep 10- to 12-inch skillet bring 1 1/4 inches salted water to a boil and cook asparagus until crisp-tender, about 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer asparagus with tongs to a colander and drain. Divide asparagus among crostini. Pour fonduta over them.