Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

This quick and easy Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus recipe is perfect for holiday entertaining and busy weeknights. Crisp-tender asparagus is bundled in prosciutto and roasted to perfection to make an elegant appetizer or side dish in under 20 minutes.

Prosciutto-wrapped asparagus is the new bacon-wrapped asparagus if you ask me. If we’re talking ingredients, prosciutto is the healthier option as it is usually nothing more than pork and salt.

Bacon, on the other hand, is typically cured with sugar and preservatives. For paleo, keto, and Whole30 purposes, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus bundles are the way to go.

These bundles may look like a time-consuming gourmet dish, but they couldn’t be any easier. It’s as simple as bundling asparagus in prosciutto and baking. The delightfully briney prosciutto balances out the bitter asparagus taste. Even asparagus skeptics love asparagus when it’s wrapped in salty cured pork!

💗 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and easy. They may look and taste fancy, but these bundles are simple.
• It checks off the gluten-free, low carb, keto, paleo and Whole30 boxes.
• You can prep the bundles in advance.
• Great for entertaining!

🥓 Ingredients You’ll Need

• Asparagus: Asparagus is a great source of fiber, potassium, and a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals. Make sure your aspagus stalks are firm and fresh.
• Prosciutto: an Italian delicacy! You might want to have extra on hand to snack on because it’s delicious raw.
• Quality Cooking Oil: For roasted veggies, I always use either olive oil or avocado oil.
• Salt & Pepper: Prosciutto packs a salty punch, so salt lightly.

📖 How To Make Asparagus Wrapped In Prosciutto

1️⃣ Prepare for roasting.
Preheat your oven to 365F. To prep the asparagus spears, wash, dry, and cut away the woody stems.

2️⃣ Season asparagus.
Drizzle the oil over the top of the asparagus and season with salt and pepper (you can do this right on your cutting board). Toss to coat. Then, divide the asparagus into 4 to 6 bundles.

3️⃣ Wrap with prosciutto.
Wrap each bundle securely in a piece of prosciutto and place them on a baking sheet seam with the seam side down facing down.

4️⃣ Roast asparagus bundles.
Transfer to the oven and bake until the asparagus are fork-tender and the prosciutto is lightly crisped (about 15 minutes).

👩🏻‍🍳 Chef’s Tips

• Thin vs. thick spears – Thick, firm spears work best. If your asparagus are on the thinner side, decrease the baking time by a few minutes so they don’t overcook and become mushy.
• Don’t forget to cut off the ends – While it may seem wasteful to chop off a chunk, the woody stalks aren’t exactly appetizing.
• Use one spear as your guide – While holding a spear on both ends gently bend it in half. Ideally, where it snaps is where the woody stalk begins. Line the rest of the spears up next to the one you snapped. Use it as a guide and slice off the tough parts from the rest of your aspagus.
• Don’t oversalt – Prociutto is natually salty, so you won’t need much.
• Bake on a wire rack – Place a wire rack on top of a baking sheet. Spray the rack with cooking spray and roast the wrapped aspagus on top of the rack, so the prosciutto crisps evenly all the way around.

🔀 Variations

Not a big asparagus fan? Try this recipe with broccolini or blanched green beans instead.

Bacon-wrapped asparagus – You can use thinly-sliced bacon instead of prosciutto. Thicker bacon may need to be par-cooked before wrapping around the asparagus, so everything cooks at the same rate.

Parmesan topping – Sprinkle parmesan on top of each bundle halfway through baking, so it melts over top without burning.

🍽️ What to Serve with Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

Make it a meal and serve prosciutto bundles as a side with a protein dish and starch. They go great with:

• Roasted Chicken Thighs & Potatoes
• Grilled BBQ Porkchops & Corn on the Cob
• Creamy Lemon Chicken & Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
• Pecan Crusted Chicken & Baked Brie Mac and Cheese

♻️ Storing & Reheating

Storing: This dish is best enjoyed immediately, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. This isn’t a good one to store in the freezer, unfortunately.

Reheating: Reheat in the oven (or air fryer) at 370 degrees until the prosciutto is re-crisped and the asparagus is hot.

❔FAQ

More Vegetable Sides

Everything Bagel Green Beans Almondine
Roasted Kabocha Squash
Purple Cabbage Steaks