Italian-Style Asparagus: Baked or Fried
Parboiled fresh asaparagus dipped in Italian seasoned breadcrumb, egg and Parmigiano cheese then baked or fried.
Servings: 6
Calories: 376kcal
Ingredients
- 1 bunch fresh asparagus about 20 stalks
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs I use Progresso
- 2 cups grated Parmigiano or Pecorino Romano cheese Or you can mix both cheeses
- 3 to 6 eggs beaten
- 1 bunch Italian parsley finely chopped
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F if baking.
- Cut the hard ends off the bottom of the fresh asparagus.1 bunch fresh asparagus
- Prepare a large bowl of cold water and ice and keep it near the stove.
- Mix the bread crumb, grated cheese, finely chopped Italian parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper into a mixing bowl (or onto a dinner plate). Set aside.1 cup plain breadcrumbs, 2 cups grated Parmigiano or Pecorino Romano cheese, 1 bunch Italian parsley, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon ground pepper, 1 teaspoon salt
- Beat the eggs in a mixing bowl and set aside.3 to 6 eggs
- Put the flour into a mixing bowl or on a dinner plate and set aside.1 cup flour
- Arrange the bowls (or plates), left to right in a straight "assembly line: 1) flour 2) beaten egg 3) bread crumb mix.
- Line the sheet pan with parchment paper if baking. Get the non-stick fry pan ready by adding 1 tablespoon of olive oil if frying.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Bring large pot of water of water to a boil. Parboil all the asparagus for 3 - 5 minutes.
- Using the tongs, lift the asparagus spears out of the boiling water and place immediately into the bowl of ice water for 3 - 5 minutes.
- Remove the asparagus from the ice water with tongs, and roll the bunch of spears into paper towels to dry them just a little. Then unroll them.
- Do the "assembly line" process with groups of 3 - 4 asparagus spears at a time: 1) coat lightly in flour 2) coat floured spears in beaten egg 3) roll the spears in the bread crumb mixture 4) roll the spears a second time in the beaten egg.
- FOR BAKING: Immediately place the coated spears, close together, on the parchment-lined sheet pan, if baking. Bake in -preheated oven at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes or until golden brown on both sides. You shouldn't need to flip the spears over. Remove from oven and, using spatula, place on dinner plate or serving platter. FOR FRYING: heat the olive oil on medium-high in the non-stick fry pan and begin frying, in batches, the coated spears. Fry until golden brown on the bottom, then flip the spears over with a spatula and fry the other side until golden brown. Remove spears with spatula and place on dinner plate or serving platter.
Notes
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Nutrition
Calories: 376kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 1093mg | Potassium: 352mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1752IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 480mg | Iron: 5mg