Asparagus and Prosciutto Roll-ups

Asparagus and prosciutto roll-ups are a delicious and very simple appetizer to prepare. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• Fresh asparagus
• Slices of thin prosciutto (raw ham)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt (if necessary, as the prosciutto is already salty)
• Black pepper (optional)

Preparation

1. Start by cleaning the asparagus: remove the harder woody part at the end of the stem, then if necessary, with a vegetable peeler, thin the outer skin of the thicker stems.
2. Cook the asparagus in boiling salted water for about 3-5 minutes; they should soften but still remain crunchy. An alternative is to steam them or cook them on the grill for a more intense flavor.
3. Drain them and quickly plunge them into ice water to stop cooking and maintain a bright green color.
4. Dry the asparagus and wrap them in bundles with a slice of prosciutto. If the asparagus are small, you can wrap several stems together; if they are large, you can also wrap each asparagus individually.
5. Arrange the asparagus and prosciutto roll-ups on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and if desired, lightly brush with extra virgin olive oil.
6. You can put the roll-ups in a preheated oven at 200 °C for a few minutes to crisp the prosciutto, or serve them as they are.
7. Season with a pinch of fresh pepper if you like, and if necessary, adjust for salt (but taste first, because the raw ham is already flavorful).

Asparagus and prosciutto roll-ups can be an excellent start to an Italian dinner, easy to make and always appreciated for their simplicity and authenticity. Moreover, they offer a great balance between the sweetness of the asparagus and the savory flavor of the prosciutto.

Curiosity

In some Italian regions, asparagus and prosciutto roll-ups are enriched with flakes of Parmesan cheese or Parmigiano before baking, to add a note of flavor and creaminess.