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Überbackener Spargel
Baked asparagus with ham
Überbackener Spargel: white asparagus wrapped in ham, baked under hollandaise and cheese
GermanThis gratin is a spring classic of German home cooking, made from Lower Saxony to Bavaria when white asparagus is cheap at the market in May. Bundles of cooked spears are rolled in slices of cooked ham (pork), laid in a dish, covered with hollandaise and grated cheese and baked until bubbling and golden, then served with buttered new potatoes. It is an easy way to feed a family on asparagus without fuss. A common mistake is skipping the draining step, so water from the spears thins the sauce. Chef's tip: for a vegetarian version, roll the asparagus in thin pancakes instead of ham.
- Total time
- 55 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the asparagus
- 2 ⅝ lb white asparaguspeeled, woody ends removed
- 3 litres water
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
For the hollandaise
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 5 ½ oz butter, melted
- 1 pinch salt
For the topping
- 2 ⅞ oz mild hard cheese such as Gouda or Emmentalgrated
- 1 ¾ lb new potatoesboiled, to serve
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Bring 3 litres water with 1 tbsp salt and 1 tsp sugar to the boil and cook 2 ⅝ lb white asparagus for 10–12 minutes until just tender. Drain well on a tea towel and pat dry.
15 minStep 2: Heat the oven to 400°F (350°F fan). Divide the spears into 8 bundles and roll each one in a slice of 8 thin slices of cooked ham. Lay them side by side in a buttered baking dish.
5 minStep 3: Whisk 3 egg yolks and 1 tbsp lemon juice in a heatproof bowl over barely simmering water for 3–4 minutes until thick and foamy. Off the heat, whisk in 5 ½ oz butter, melted in a thin stream until glossy, and season with 1 pinch salt. If it starts to split, whisk in a spoon of warm water.
8 minStep 4: Spoon the hollandaise over the rolls, scatter with 2 ⅞ oz mild hard cheese such as Gouda or Emmental and bake for 12–15 minutes until golden and bubbling. Serve with 1 ¾ lb new potatoes.
15 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 560 kcal
- Protein
- 30 g
- Carbs
- 12 g
- Fat
- 44 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does überbackener Spargel take?
- About 55 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of lemon juice?
- Lime juice, same amount.
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