Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Crispy Asparagus Straws with Lemon Parmesan Aioli

Crispy Asparagus Straws with Lemon Parmesan Aioli
This is a delicious appetizer, you can prepare them ahead of time
and bake off just before serving.
36 asparagus spears
4 sheets of phyllo dough, thawed
6 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated
¼ cup butter, melted
salt and pepper to sprinkle on top
Preheat oven to 425° F

Trim ends of asparagus. Blanche asparagus in boiling salted water until lightly
tender to the bite, about 3 minutes.
Place one sheet of phyllo on a cutting board. Set aside the remaining sheets,
cover with a damp towel. Brush the phyllo sheet with melted butter. Cut the sheet
into nine rectangles, two cuts down from the top, two cuts across. Place an
asparagus spear at the bottom of the short side of the rectangle with the tip
sticking out from the dough by 2 inches. Sprinkle on a teaspoon of cheese. Roll
up spear and seal with butter. Finish with remaining spears.
Place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with remaining
cheese, salt and pepper. Cover the exposed asparagus tips with foil. Bake until
golden brown and crispy 10 to 12 minutes. Serve warm.

Lemon Parmesan Aioli
½ cup Sour Cream
¾ cup Mayonnaise
1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese (2 ounces)
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Fresh Lemon Zest from 2 lemons
1-teaspoon black pepper
1 clove of garlic, pressed
½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt
Preparation:
Whisk together all ingredients in a bowl and let chill for 2 hours

Makes 36 single asparagus straws.

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