The festive season is wonderful, but it can also be very busy.
Your focus should be more on relaxing than on food that needs a great fuss. That’s why Spier Wine Estate is coming to your rescue with a quick and delicious recipe that you can serve at a cocktail party or as a starter to a lunch or dinner.
This pan-fried asparagus and parma ham dish can be served with hollandaise sauce and served with Spier Chenin Blanc 2019.
Get cooking with Spier!
Pan-fried asparagus and Parma ham with hollandaise
For the hollandaise sauce:
(serves 4 as a starter)
3 extra-large egg yolks
30ml (2 tablespoons) lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar)
pinch of salt
150g butter, cubed
For the asparagus:
About 16-24 asparagus spears (not too thin)
16-24 slices Parma ham, very thinly sliced (roughly 120-150g)
15-30ml (1-2 tablespoons) olive oil
¼ cup (60ml) almond flakes, toasted in a dry pan
A handful micro herbs, for serving (optional)
Method:
- Make the hollandaise sauce first so that it’s ready for the asaparagus. Heat 5cm water in a small pot on the stove until it simmers slowly. Add egg yolks, lemon juice and salt. Whisk immediately for 3-5 minutes and add butter slowly until all incorporated. Remove from the heat if it looks like it wants to split. Once done, remove from heat and set aside. Add a tablespoon of hot water to bring it back to consistency when your asparagus is ready.
- Be careful not to overcook the asparagus. It can easily become limp and lose colour. Fry gently and garnish with parma ham and toasted almonds and herbs.
- Drizzle with hollandaise and serve with Spier Chenin Blanc 2019.
The Spier Signature Chenin Blanc 2019 retails for R69.00 a bottle and is available at the Spier wine shop and leading liquor outlets nationwide.
Directions to Spier
R310 Baden Powell Drive
Stellenbosch
021 809 1100
