Crumb Topped Asparagus Recipes

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH CRUNCHY PARMESAN TOPPING

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Combine the bread crumbs and Parmesan.
• Rinse asparagus and break off woody bottoms. Peel if thick. Lay stalks in a baking dish that will hold them in two or three layers. If the asparagus are thick, add a splash of water. Drizzle with the olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper; place in oven.
• Roast until the asparagus are tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Test for doneness by piercing a spear with point of a sharp knife; it should slide in but meet a little resistance. (Up to this point, the recipe can be made as much as two hours before serving; just leave asparagus at room temperature.).
• Turn on broiler and place rack as close as possible to heating element. Top asparagus with cheese-crumb mixture and run under broiler to brown for 1-2 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

PARMESAN CRUSTED ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Cut the rough ends off the asparagus and place in prepared pan.
• Generously spray nonstick cooking spray on top of asparagus.
• Sprinkle Parmesan cheese in an even layer on top of asparagus.
• Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Place croutons in a resealable bag and crush using a rolling pin until fine crumbs form or place in a food processor.
• Sprinkle crouton crumbs on top of asparagus and spray again with nonstick cooking spray.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until crumb topping is golden brown and asparagus can be easily pierced with a fork.

ASPARAGUS AND PARMESAN-EGG CRUMB TOPPING

Steps:

• Pulse the bread in the bowl of a food processor until it becomes fine crumbs. Spray a nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat pan over medium-high heat until hot. Lower heat to medium, add bread crumbs to the skillet and toast, tossing often, until crumbs are golden brown and toasted, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely.
• Grate egg in the medium-sized holes of a box grater or on a medium microplane grater (used for grating chocolate or cheese). Combine the egg, bread crumbs, parsley, cheese, salt, and pepper in a medium-sized bowl and toss to combine.
• Steam the asparagus until firm, but tender, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Arrange asparagus on a serving platter and top with Parmesan-Egg Crumb Topping.

SOLE WITH SAVORY BREAD CRUMB TOPPING AND ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Trim the asparagus spears, then place them in a baking dish. Toss with 2 teaspoons of the oil and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Roast until they are crisp-tender, 10 to 15 minutes depending on the thickness of the spears.
• Meanwhile, place the garlic in a food processor and pulse until chopped. Cut off and discard the crusts from the bread, then add the bread to the processor and pulse until fine crumbs are formed.
• Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons oil and the butter together in a medium skillet over medium heat. While the oil is heating, finely zest the lemon until you get about 1 teaspoon of zest.
• Add the garlic and bread crumbs to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant and the crumbs are toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon zest, oregano, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Arrange the fish fillets on an aluminum foil- or parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Squeeze the juice of half of the lemon over the fish, then press the bread crumb mixture on top. Bake until the fish is just opaque and flakes easily with a fork, about 8 minutes. While the fish is cooking, chop the parsley.
• To serve, arrange the fish on serving plates with the asparagus alongside. Sprinkle with the juice from the remaining lemon half and the parsley before serving.