Fried Asparagus with Sauce

I would be happy to guide you in preparing a delicious fried asparagus with sauce. Frying is a much-appreciated technique in Italian cuisine, especially for appetizers and side dishes. For this recipe, I would suggest a simple and fresh sauce, perhaps a tartar sauce or a chive mayonnaise, in perfect Italian style. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients for fried asparagus:

• Fresh asparagus, 500g
• Flour, as needed for breading
• Eggs, 2
• Salt, as needed
• Pepper, as needed
• Seed oil, for frying

Ingredients for the tartar sauce:

• Mayonnaise, 200g
• Chopped capers, 1 tablespoon
• Chopped pickles, 1 tablespoon
• Chopped parsley, 1 tablespoon
• Lemon juice, 1 teaspoon

Preparation

1. Start by cleaning the asparagus by removing the toughest part of the stem and washing them under running water.
2. Blanch in salted water for about 3-5 minutes, depending on the thickness. They should soften but remain crispy.
3. Drain them and dip them into cold water to stop the cooking process.
4. In a deep dish, beat the eggs with a pinch of salt and pepper. In another dish, pour some flour.
5. Dip the asparagus first in the beaten egg and then in the flour, making sure they are well covered.
6. In a deep pan, heat a generous amount of seed oil. Once the right temperature is reached (180 °C), fry the breaded asparagus until golden.
7. Drain them and place them on paper towels to remove excess oil.

Preparation of the tartar sauce:

1. In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise with capers, pickles, chopped parsley, and lemon juice.
2. Mix well until you get a homogeneous sauce.

Serve the asparagus hot with the tartar sauce.

Curiosity

Asparagus, especially in spring, is a fresh and versatile ingredient in Italian cuisine. Historic Romans like Cato and Pliny documented asparagus cultivation techniques, which they adored for their culinary and medicinal qualities. In the Renaissance, asparagus gained great popularity, being consumed by both the poor and nobles for their supposed aphrodisiac virtues.