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Asparagus with wild garlic and bacon dressing

An average of 5.0 out of 5 stars from 3 ratings
Prepare
over 2 hours
Cook
10 to 30 mins
Serve
Serves 2

Homemade bacon dressing made with smoked pork belly is the star of this elegant asparagus dish. Serve with wilted wild garlic and buttery fried eggs.

Ingredients

For the bacon dressing

  • pork belly: 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú smoked and cured pork belly
  • sherry vinegar: 60ml/4 tbsp sherry vinegar
  • pork: 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú pork jus
  • Dijon mustard: 1 tsp Dijon mustard

For the asparagus

  • butter: 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú butter, plus extra for frying
  • asparagus: 12 green asparagus, peeled
  • wild garlic: 8 wild garlic leaves
  • eggs: 2 free range eggs
  • black pepper: salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

  1. Put the pork belly in a large saucepan of cold water and bring to the boil. Once boiling, remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Put the pork belly in a baking tray with another baking tray on top. Weight the top down with a weight or can to press the pork belly. Chill for 2–3 hours in the fridge.

  2. Once pressed, dice the pork belly into 1cm cubes. Put the cubes into a large frying pan set over a medium heat. Cook to render out the fat, this will take 3–4 minute. Once the pork is caramelised, deglaze the pan with the sherry vinegar and pork jus to taste. Stir the mustard through to taste, then set the dressing aside.

  3. Melt the butter in a large frying pan, add a splash of water and season with salt and pepper, then fry the asparagus for 3–4 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the wild garlic.

  4. Fry the eggs in a little butter, then season with salt and pepper.

  5. To serve, place the asparagus and wild garlic on a serving plate, top with the fried eggs and finish with bacon dressing.