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Outstanding Asparagus Bake

CasserolePorkGastro-Pub

Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Yield: 8 servings

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About

The secret to great asparagus? Layering! Outstanding Asparagus Bake understands just that. It partners the distinct asparagus flavor with crispy bacon, melty, smoky cheese, hearty hard-boiled eggs, and a homemade cream sauce! Now that's how you do vegetables! The Outstanding Asparagus Bake will have you declaring it to be an exemplar of the side dish category! And it is!

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Ingredients

  • 2 bunches asparagus (about 2 pounds), woody ends removed and discarded, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 4 thick slices bacon, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
  • nutmeg, freshly grated, to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • coarse salt, to taste
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 4 large eggs, hard-boiled and halved lengthwise
  • 1 cup buttery crackers, coarsely crushed
  • 1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded
  • freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

Step 1 -Position an oven rack into the upper third position.

Step 2 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 3 -Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.

Step 4 -Prepare an ice bath.

Step 5 -Add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook until just tender and bright green, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 6 -Transfer the asparagus to the ice bath to shock them and stop the cooking process.

Step 7 -Drain the asparagus.

Step 8 -Return the pot to medium heat.

Step 9 -Add the bacon and cook while stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 10 minutes.

Step 10 -Transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon.

Step 11 -Drain the drippings from the pot.

Step 12 -Add the butter to the pot and melt over medium heat until foamy, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 13 -Add the onion, the nutmeg, the cayenne, and the salt and cook while stirring occasionally until the onion is translucent, about 3 minutes.

Step 14 -Stir in the flour and cook while stirring occasionally until the flour is toasted and fragrant, about 1 minute.

Step 15 -Stir in the Dijon mustard.

Step 16 -Gradually whisk in the milk.

Step 17 -Bring the sauce to a boil while whisking often.

Step 18 -Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the sauce has thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.

Step 19 -Spread 1 cup of the sauce evenly across the bottom of a 9-inch square baking dish.

Step 20 -Reserve 1 cup of the asparagus and layer the remaining asparagus over the sauce.

Step 21 -Arrange the bacon in an even layer on top of the asparagus layer.

Step 22 -Layer on the egg slices, the cracker crumbs, and the remaining sauce in the baking dish.

Step 23 -Arrange the reserved asparagus on top of the casserole, down the center of the casserole.

Step 24 -Sprinkle the Gruyère cheese evenly on top.

Step 25 -Season with the black pepper.

Step 26 -Bake until the sauce is bubbling, about 25 minutes.

Step 27 -Turn the oven to the broil setting.

Step 28 -Broil until the top is golden-brown, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 29 -Allow the casserole to cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.

Step 30 -Serve.

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