Cheesy Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundles
An easy-as-can-be and equally impressive appetizer.
When it comes to serving an appetizer to guests, I am always looking for three things — that it’s delicious, that it’s at least a little bit impressive, and that it’s easy to prepare amongst the hubbub of other preparations for hosting company. In other words, these Cheesy Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundles are my perfect solution. They are delicious in exactly the irresistible way you want something you’re serving a guest to be, they rely on storebought puff pastry as a shortcut, and they take about ten or fifteen minutes to get into the oven, tops. Did I also mention that they’re absolutely lovely? They are absolutely lovely. And they’re a cinch to make.
You will need two sheets of frozen puff pastry, which is usually what the package provides anyway, but read that package when you buy it because the thawing time can take hours and hours in the fridge and it’s not something you can easily (or successfully) rush. But it’s a simple process, just plan ahead, and pop it in the fridge. That’s it. These are best served immediately, so soon before you want to serve them, roll out the sheets of puff pastry and cut each one into six squares.
You’ll prep your asparagus by snapping off the woody ends — a task I’ve always rather enjoyed — and toss the spears in some olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper. (Could you skip the thyme? Sure! But thyme and asparagus is one of my favorite combos and so I’ve gone with it here.) You’ll lay out those squares of puff pastry and line each one with a slice of prosciutto, folding it in half if you need to, and then top it with a few asparagus spears and a sprinkle of grated gruyere cheese.
Wrap the little bundle up by folding one corner over the other and pressing it together and then brush each package with some beaten egg to ensure it browns beautifully when you bake. (That takes less than fifteen minutes too.) You are serving these to guests, after all. Or maybe not… I’ve found that these make for a mighty fine light lunch or dinner alongside a little side salad, even if I happen to be all by my lonesome.
Cheesy Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundles
Ingredients
- 1 bunch asparagus, woody ends trimmed off
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 8 oz Gruyere cheese, grated
- 12 slices prosciutto
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 egg, beaten
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry sheets out and cut each rectangle into 6 squares.
- Toss trimmed asparagus in olive oil, thyme, and salt and pepper. Set aside.
- On each square of puff pastry, arrange a slice of prosciutto (folded in half if needed), 3-4 spears of asparagus, and about 2 tablespoons of cheese.
- Wrap bundle by lifting two opposite corners of the puff pastry and wrapping them around the asparagus. Press to seal.
- Brush puff pastry with beaten egg, sprinkle with more salt and pepper, and bake until golden and puffed, 12-15 minutes. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Quiche My Grits.