Asparagus Pasticcio

The asparagus pasticcio is a refined and tasty dish that can be prepared as an appetizer or as a light second course. Here’s the recipe with a small Italian twist to make the dish even more delicious:

Ingredients

• 500g of fresh asparagus
• 1 sheet of puff pastry
• 200g of high-quality Italian cooked ham (an alternative to classic bacon)
• 200ml of cooking cream
• 3 large eggs
• 100g of grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Nutmeg to taste
• Butter for greasing the pan

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Clean the asparagus by removing the harder end of the stem and boil in salted water for about 5 minutes. They should remain al dente. Drain and cut them into pieces about 3-4 cm long.
3. Roll out the puff pastry in a previously buttered pan or lined with parchment paper and prick the bottom with a fork to prevent it from puffing up during cooking.
4. Arrange the pieces of asparagus and cooked ham over the pastry.
5. In a bowl, beat the eggs with the cream, add the Parmesan, a sprinkle of nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Pour the mixture over the asparagus and ham.
6. Bake in the oven for about 30-35 minutes or until the surface of the pasticcio is golden brown and the pastry is cooked.
7. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.

Curiosity

The asparagus pasticcio with puff pastry is a reworking of the classic quiche, a specialty of French cuisine. The addition of Italian cooked ham instead of bacon provides a sweeter and less smoky note, which pairs well with the delicacy of asparagus.

You can serve this dish with a fresh green salad or, during a buffet, cut it into squares and serve as finger food. Enjoy your Italian-style asparagus pasticcio!