Step 1 You will need
12 asparagus spears trimmed
3 sheets of phylo dough
50 g butter melted
40 g parmesan , grated
salt
1 brush
1 saucepan
iced water
1 slotted spoon
1 baking tray
1 damp tea towel
1 tray
paper towel
1 large knife
Step 2 Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 220 degrees centigrade or gas mark 7.
Step 3 Cook the asparagus
Firstly the asparagus need to be blanched. Add some salt into a saucepan of boiling water then add the asparagus spears. Allow the water to come to a boil once more, roughly 30 seconds and then remove the asparagus with your slotted spoon.
VIDEOJUG TIP Do not over cook
Place immediately into a bowl of iced water to stop the cooking process. Leave for one and half minutes to cool down. Then remove and place on a tray covered with kitchen towel to drain. The asparagus has to be very dry.
Step 4 Prepare the phylo pastry
Using the lightly dampened tea towel to cover the phylo is very important. Uncover the cloth and take 1 sheet of pastry. Place the damp cloth back over the pastry. Then lightly brush the sheet of phylo with melted butter.
Take another sheet, and place it on top of the other. Again lightly brush with the butter. Take a third sheet, place it on top of the second sheet and once again repeat the brushing process, getting rid of all the air pockets as you brush.
Then turn the whole thing over and brush lightly with the butter. Then lightly sprinkle over the grated parmesan cheese, covering the entire surface.
VIDEOJUG TIP Different Parmesan cheeses differ in saltiness, so before using check for the saltiness of your parmesan.
Step 5 Cut the phylo
Take your large knife and cut the sheets first across making three sections then cut down horizontally into four sections, making 12 squares.
Step 6 Roll the asparagus
Take an asparagus spear and separating one pastry square place the spear into it, leaving the tip outside of the pastry. Now roll the asparagus and then sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.
Take a second spear, place an asparagus spear on it. Roll it up and then sprinkle some parmesan cheese over. Repeat the process with the remaining pastry and asparagus spears.
Step 7 Bake
Just before baking, place the wrapped asparagus spears onto a large baking tray. Then place in the centre of the preheated oven. And bake for roughly 7 – 10 minutes. Once baked remove from the oven.
Step 8 Serve
You can serve this canapé either hot or cold, as this pastry will remain crispy for a long time. Serving suggestions: you can roll with pieces of ham, different cheeses, nuts and spices and different mayonnaise dips.