The secret to great asparagus? Layering! Outstanding Asparagus Bake understands just that. It partners the distinct asparagus flavor with crispy bacon, melty, smoky cheese, hearty hard-boiled eggs, and a homemade cream sauce! Now that’s how you do vegetables! The Outstanding Asparagus Bake will have you declaring it to be an exemplar of the side dish category! And it is!
Ingredients
- 2 bunches asparagus (about 2 pounds), woody ends removed and discarded, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 4 thick slices bacon, chopped
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
- nutmeg, freshly grated, to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- coarse salt, to taste
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 large eggs, hard-boiled and halved lengthwise
- 1 cup buttery crackers, coarsely crushed
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions
Step 1 –Position an oven rack into the upper third position.
Step 2 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 3 –Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
Step 4 –Prepare an ice bath.
Step 5 –Add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook until just tender and bright green, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 6 –Transfer the asparagus to the ice bath to shock them and stop the cooking process.
Step 7 –Drain the asparagus.
Step 8 –Return the pot to medium heat.
Step 9 –Add the bacon and cook while stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 10 minutes.
Step 10 –Transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon.
Step 11 –Drain the drippings from the pot.
Step 12 –Add the butter to the pot and melt over medium heat until foamy, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 13 –Add the onion, the nutmeg, the cayenne, and the salt and cook while stirring occasionally until the onion is translucent, about 3 minutes.
Step 14 –Stir in the flour and cook while stirring occasionally until the flour is toasted and fragrant, about 1 minute.
Step 15 –Stir in the Dijon mustard.
Step 16 –Gradually whisk in the milk.
Step 17 –Bring the sauce to a boil while whisking often.
Step 18 –Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the sauce has thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.
Step 19 –Spread 1 cup of the sauce evenly across the bottom of a 9-inch square baking dish.
Step 20 –Reserve 1 cup of the asparagus and layer the remaining asparagus over the sauce.
Step 21 –Arrange the bacon in an even layer on top of the asparagus layer.
Step 22 –Layer on the egg slices, the cracker crumbs, and the remaining sauce in the baking dish.
Step 23 –Arrange the reserved asparagus on top of the casserole, down the center of the casserole.
Step 24 –Sprinkle the Gruyère cheese evenly on top.
Step 25 –Season with the black pepper.
Step 26 –Bake until the sauce is bubbling, about 25 minutes.
Step 27 –Turn the oven to the broil setting.
Step 28 –Broil until the top is golden-brown, about 3-4 minutes.
Step 29 –Allow the casserole to cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
Step 30 –Serve.
