My Springtime Secret
I love when the first asparagus shows up. It means spring is really here. I get mine from the farmer’s market. Those bright green stalks just sing of fresh beginnings.
My favorite way to dress it up is this easy asparagus side dish. We wrap it in prosciutto with a little goat cheese. It feels so fancy but is simple to make. Doesn’t that sound like a fun trick?
A Little Story in Every Bite
I first made this for my book club years ago. I was so nervous. But those prosciutto appetizers disappeared in minutes! I still laugh at that. Everyone asked for the roasted asparagus recipe.
That’s why this matters. Good food brings people together. It starts conversations. What’s a dish that always makes your friends smile? I’d love to hear yours.
Let’s Get Wrapping
Use cold prosciutto from the fridge. Let your goat cheese get soft on the counter. This is my big tip! The cold prosciutto is firmer. The soft cheese spreads easily.
Just smear a bit on the prosciutto. Then roll it around a stalk. You are making a little flavor blanket. The roasted prosciutto and goat cheese get so cozy in the oven. *Fun fact: Asparagus will snap at the perfect spot if you bend it. Just toss the woody end!
The Magic of Heat
The oven does the real work. In just 15 minutes, magic happens. The asparagus gets tender. The prosciutto gets crispy. The goat cheese gets warm and creamy.
That’s why this matters. Cooking changes textures and blends flavors. It turns simple parts into a beautiful whole. Do you prefer your veggies crunchy or soft? I’m always curious.
The Final Flourish
Now for the best part. Take it out of the oven. Sprinkle on a little parmesan. Then drizzle that balsamic glaze asparagus. The sweet glaze with the salty prosciutto is perfect.
This is truly an elegant side dish. It looks like you tried very hard. But it’s just wrapping and roasting. It proves spring vegetable recipes can be special. Will you try this with your farmer’s market asparagus this week?
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Thick asparagus spears | 12 (just under a pound) | Woody ends snapped off |
| Prosciutto | 6 slices | Cold, straight from the fridge |
| Goat cheese | 3 oz | Softened to room temperature |
| Black pepper | To taste | |
| Olive oil | 1-2 tbsp | For drizzling |
| Grated parmesan | ½ tbsp | |
| Balsamic glaze | To taste | For drizzling after roasting |
Instructions
Step 1: First, get your oven nice and hot. I set mine to 400 degrees. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper. This makes cleanup so easy. Now, snap the woody ends off your Farmer’s Market Asparagus. It will break perfectly.
Step 2: Cut your prosciutto slices in half. Use cold prosciutto from the fridge. Now, schmear a teaspoon of soft goat cheese on each piece. (Cold prosciutto and room-temp cheese prevents tearing!). This Goat Cheese Asparagus step is my favorite.
Step 3: Time to wrap! Place a spear on a prosciutto half. Roll it up tightly. Lay each bundle on your sheet. Drizzle them all with a little olive oil. Doesn’t that smell amazing already? This makes the best Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus.
Step 4: Bake for 10 to 15 minutes. You want the prosciutto crispy and the asparagus tender. How do you like your Roasted Asparagus Recipe—soft or with a little crunch? Share below! This Roasted Prosciutto and Goat Cheese combo is pure magic.
Step 5: Take your beautiful bundles out. Sprinkle them with parmesan right away. Finally, drizzle your Balsamic Glaze Asparagus. That sweet, tangy finish makes it an Elegant Side Dish. I still laugh at how fancy something so easy can look.
Creative Twists
Herb Cream Cheese: Swap goat cheese for chive cream cheese. It’s so creamy and fresh.
Lemon Zest Sparkle: Add lemon zest over the top before baking. It brightens everything up.
Honey Drizzle: Try a tiny drizzle of honey instead of balsamic. Sweet and salty is wonderful.
Which one would you try first? Comment below!
Serving & Pairing Ideas
This Easy Asparagus Side Dish is so versatile. Serve it on a big platter as a Prosciutto Appetizer for friends. For dinner, pair it with roasted chicken or simple pasta. It’s a perfect Spring Vegetable Recipes star. Which would you choose tonight?
Keeping Your Fancy Asparagus Fresh and Ready
Let’s talk about storing these tasty bundles. They are best eaten right away. But you can prep them ahead for a party. Wrap them and place on a baking sheet. Do not bake them yet. Pop the whole sheet into the fridge for a few hours.
I remember my first big dinner party. I prepped everything the morning of. It saved me from a last-minute panic. Storing your work this way matters. It turns cooking from a rush into a calm, joyful process. You get to enjoy your own party.
For leftovers, keep them in a sealed container in the fridge. Reheat in a 350-degree oven for five minutes. This keeps the prosciutto crisp. Freezing is not the best for this Easy Asparagus Side Dish. The texture of the asparagus gets too soft.
Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!
Simple Fixes for Common Kitchen Hiccups
First, prosciutto can tear easily. I once made a real mess with warm, soft prosciutto. Always use it cold from the fridge. This makes it sturdier for spreading the goat cheese and rolling.
Second, your goat cheese might be too cold. Let it soften on the counter. This makes it easy to schmear. Fixing this matters because it saves you frustration. Cooking should feel smooth, not like a fight.
Third, the asparagus ends can be tough. Just bend each spear near the end. It snaps at the perfect spot. This little step matters for flavor. No one wants a woody, stringy bite in their Elegant Side Dish.
Which of these problems have you run into before?
Your Quick Questions, Answered
How many asparagus spears per person for prosciutto wrapped asparagus?
Plan for two to three spears per person as an appetizer. For a side dish, three to four is perfect. A one-pound bundle of Farmer’s Market Asparagus usually makes twelve spears. That nicely serves four to six people. It is a rich treat, so a little goes a long way. This makes planning your Spring Vegetable Recipes simple.
Can I prepare prosciutto wrapped asparagus ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare this Prosciutto Appetizer ahead. Assemble the bundles with the Goat Cheese Asparagus. Place them on your baking sheet. Cover the sheet tightly and refrigerate for up to six hours. Bake them just before your guests arrive. This is the best way to keep the prosciutto from getting soggy. It is a great time-saver.
What temperature should you roast prosciutto wrapped asparagus?
Roast your Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This high heat is key. It makes the prosciutto crisp up beautifully. It also roasts the asparagus quickly so it stays tender. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes. Watch for the prosciutto to get crispy. This temperature works perfectly for this Roasted Asparagus Recipe.
What are good substitutes for balsamic vinegar in this recipe?
If you have no Balsamic Glaze Asparagus, try a drizzle of honey. A little lemon juice also adds a nice zing. You could even use a thick, syrupy pomegranate molasses. *Fun fact: The glaze adds a sweet-tangy finish that balances the salty prosciutto.* Any sweet-and-tangy sauce you like will work. The goal is that final flavorful touch.
Can you use thin asparagus for prosciutto wrapped asparagus?
I recommend thick spears for this Roasted Prosciutto and Goat Cheese dish. Thin asparagus cooks too fast. The prosciutto might not crisp before the spear gets mushy. Thick spears hold up to the longer cooking time. They give you a tender inside and a crispy outside. If you only have thin spears, reduce the baking time to about 8 minutes.
What main dishes pair well with prosciutto wrapped asparagus?
This side pairs wonderfully with simple roasted chicken. It is also lovely with grilled fish like salmon. For a pasta night, serve it alongside creamy fettuccine. The salty, rich bundles complement lighter mains perfectly. They add a special touch to any weeknight or holiday meal. It is a versatile and delicious partner for many dishes.
Which tip will you try first?
A Final Word from My Kitchen to Yours
I hope you love making this recipe. It always feels a bit fancy. But it is really just simple, good food. That is the best kind of cooking. I would love to hear about your kitchen adventures.
Tell me about your dinner or your family’s thoughts. Your stories are my favorite thing to read. Have you tried this recipe? Let me know how it turned out for you in the comments below.
Happy cooking!
—Marina Caldwell
Prosciutto Wrapped Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic
Description
Prosciutto Wrapped Roasted Asparagus
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut each slice of prosciutto in half, widthwise. Take about 1 tsp of goat cheese, and carefully schmear it over the surface of each prosciutto half. Season goat cheese with a pinch of black pepper.
- Place an asparagus spear at the edge of one prosciutto half, roll tightly to wrap the asparagus with prosciutto. Place on prepared baking sheet, and repeat with remaining prosciutto spears. Drizzle the asparagus with olive oil, making sure to drizzle over both the asparagus and the prosciutto. Bake for 10-15 mins until the asparagus is fork tender and the prosciutto has started to crisp up.
- Transfer prosciutto to a serving platter. Finish by sprinkling with grated parmesan and a drizzling of balsamic glaze, to taste. Enjoy!
Notes
- I prefer my prosciutto to be crispier, so I like to leave these in the oven for 15 minutes. However, it’s important to use thicker asparagus spears that can hold up to the longer cooking time. If your asparagus is skinnier or if you like a firmer vegetable, only roast for 10 mins.
It helps to work with cold prosciutto straight from the fridge and room temp goat cheese. The prosciutto is delicate, so colder prosciutto and softened goat cheese helps to minimize tearing when we’re spreading the goat cheese on the prosciutto.
To remove the woody ends from the asparagus, gently bend it, and it will naturally snap in half right at the area that needs to come off. Just discard the ends.