Roasted tender-crisp asparagus wrapped with salty prosciutto served with a creamy lemon aioli for dipping! This Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus makes a delicious side dish or it's perfect as a starter, appetizer or healthy snack!Recipe can be scaled up or down by using the slider if you hover your mouse over the number of Servings.
Preheat oven to 425-degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easy clean up. If using foil, grease with oil or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
Season asparagus: Drizzle the asparagus with 1 tablespoon of oil. Sprinkle with the Italian seasoning, ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper. Use your hands to toss the asparagus, thoroughly coating it in the seasonings and oil.
Make bundles: Divide asparagus into 10 small bundles, about 5 to 8 pieces of asparagus per bundle, arranging the tips so they all face the same direction. Working with 1 bundle and 1 slice of prosciutto at a time, wrap the prosciutto around the asparagus bundle – start wrapping just under the tips of the asparagus and use a downward spiral motion to secure the bundle together in the middle of the spears. Repeat with remaining asparagus and prosciutto.
Arrange + Add Parmesan: Transfer the asparagus bundles to the prepared baking sheet, seam side down. And arrange the bundles so they are spaced apart in a single layer and NOT touching (you don’t want them to steam!). Optional: Sprinkle the parmesan cheese evenly over the bundles.
Roast: Transfer the baking sheet to the middle rack of the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until asparagus is tender-crisp.
Meanwhile, make asparagus dipping sauce: In a small mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients for the lemon dipping sauce. Season with 1/8 teaspoon salt and generous pinch of ground black pepper. Whisk until well combined. Taste and adjust for seasoning. (If you prefer a sweet lemon sauce, add a bit of honey.)
Serve: Remove asparagus bundles from the oven and immediately transfer to a serving platter. Sprinkle with more parmesan. Serve with lemon dipping sauce and lemon wedges on the side. Enjoy!
Notes
Asparagus: Look for asparagus spears in similar thickness for even cooking. Try to avoid spears that are too thick or they will take too long to bake.
To stretch your budget: Use one (3 ounce) package of sliced prosciutto and cut or tear each slice in half, lengthwise.
Parma ham is prosciutto from the Parma region of Northern Italy.
Bacon: You can swap out the prosciutto for thin-cut bacon; however, you will want to bake your bundles on a wire rack so the fat drips down onto the pan.
Crispy bundles: If you prefer your asparagus bundles crispy, insert a wire rack onto your baking pan and place the bundles on the rack before baking. The wire rack will ensure the fat from the meat drips down onto the pan.
Nutritional information is an approximation based upon 10 servings. It does not include the optional parmesan cheese or creamy asparagus sauce. Exact information will depend upon the brands of ingredients and precise measurements used.