Redefining spring with baked asparagus in a creamy dream

If the thought of green asparagus brings to mind only creamy soups or casseroles, I have something you will surely enjoy. You can prepare this delightful spring vegetable in a new way—it's interesting, unique, and, above all, delicious.

You only need a handful of simple ingredients for an enticing lunch featuring asparagus. You'll wrap the green spears in tasty pasta, then bake everything beneath a cosy blanket of béchamel sauce. But the surprises don’t stop there. The recipe also includes dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese to delight your taste buds.

Ingredients:

Béchamel:

• 50g butter,
• 40g all-purpose flour,
• 2 cloves of garlic,
• 500ml of milk,
• 1 teaspoon of salt,
• 2 eggs.

Other ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons of olive oil,
• 10 pcs cannelloni pasta,
• 10 green asparagus spears,
• 60g dried tomatoes in oil,
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan.

How to prepare:

Step 1. I begin by making the sauce. I melt the butter in a pot on the stove and then add peeled and minced garlic cloves. I also don’t forget the flour.

Step 2. I stir everything well to get a smooth mixture. Soon after, I add milk and bring it all to a boil.

But that’s not all about the homemade sauce. After removing the pot from the stove, I also incorporate two eggs into the mixture. I season it with a pinch of salt, and the sauce is ready just like that!

Step 3. Next, I prepare a baking dish (27cm x 20cm) in which I plan to assemble the lunch. I coat the bottom with olive oil, take a spear of green asparagus, and insert it into a raw pasta tube. This combination goes into the dish.

Step 4. The asparagus-pasta assembly is then smothered in creamy béchamel sauce. I also sprinkle over pieces of dried tomatoes and aged Parmesan.

The dish, covered with aluminum foil, is then baked in a preheated oven for 20 minutes. During this time, the oven should be set at 200 degrees Celsius.

Step 5. Once baked, the asparagus dish is ready to be served straight from the oven. I garnish it with fresh parsley for an extra touch of flavour. And that’s it, enjoy your meal!