This is one of those recipes you’ll absolutely love. It’s got everything in it. Asparagus, artichokes, a really nice sauce and Parmesan cheese. This one came together very nicely and after eating it last night, I have to mark it as a success.
The Recipe
When I first saw a photo of this dish, I thought it would be a challenge to put together. After I read through the ingredient list and the instructions though, I came to realize how easy it really was. There are only a few steps. Brown the onion, make the sauce, add the vegetables, top with cheese and breadcrumbs and put it in the oven for a little while. What you’ll get out of that is a very creamy and great tasting dinner that has some interesting texture. You’ll love the asparagus and the artichoke. Those are the best part.
Ingredients
Serves: 4
4 Tablespoons Butter
1 Sweet Onion, Chopped
3 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
2 Cups Whole Milk
3/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese, Grated, Divided
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
1/8 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper
2 Pounds Fresh Asparagus, Bottoms Trimmed
1 15-Ounce Can Artichoke Hearts in Water, Drained
2 Tablespoons Breadcrumbs
Step-by-Step Instructions
I’d like to thank Taste of the South for this recipe. You really can’t miss with this magazine and I’m looking forward to more of what they have to offer.
Pre-Heat the Oven
Arrange your oven racks so one of them is in the center position and then pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.
Blanch the Asparagus
Fill a large pot about half way with water and bring to a boil. Then, add the asparagus and let cook for four minutes. After that, drain the asparagus into a colander and rinse well with cold water to stop the cooking.
Brown Onion & Prepare Sauce
Using an eight inch cast iron skillet, add the butter and onion and warm over medium heat. For this recipe, I doubled the ingredients and used my 12-inch skillet. Anyway, let the onion cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The onion should brown slightly during this time.
After that, add the flour to the skillet and mix that into the onion well for about one minute. Then, add the milk about half cup at a time. As you add it, stir it into the other ingredients. This should take about five minutes and the sauce should thicken as you do this.
Finally, add in 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese, salt, ground black pepper, lemon juice and crushed red pepper.
Add the Asparagus & Artichoke
Add both the asparagus and artichoke and stir these two ingredients into the sauce gently.
Then, sprinkle the remaining cheese and breadcrumbs over the asparagus evenly.
Bake the Gratin
Next, place the skillet in the oven and let bake for 15 minutes. If you’d like more color on the top, you can put the skillet under your broiler for a few minutes. Just be sure to keep your eye on things. You don’t want anything to burn.
Plate & Serve
Divide the dish between plates and serve. Enjoy!
The Final Asparagus & Artichoke Gratin
This really wasn’t difficult to put together at all. And the result is just perfect. If you decide to try this dish, please let me know your thoughts on it in the comment section below. Thanks for reading!
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