Recipe: Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus Salad

I first tried this dish when Eric and I went to our wedding menu tasting. It was so good! We immediately fell in love with it and knew we had to have it again.

But since it was offered as an "upgrade" option at our wedding venue, we nixed it. Sorry, wedding guests.

A few weeks later, I decided to attempt to replicate the recipe at home. The dish seemed pretty simple and didn't involve that many ingredients.

This is what we came up with.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus Salad

Ingredients

Prosciutto
Asparagus
Balsamic vinaigrette
Sliced apple (We used Fuji because that's all I'm willing to buy)
Candied walnuts
Mixed greens
Olive oil
Fresh Parmesan cheese
Salt / pepper to taste

Directions

1. Rinse and trim asparagus as usual. Wrap bunches of two or three stalks with a strip of prosciutto.

Set into your baking dish. Once all of the asparagus is wrapped, top with a light drizzle of olive oil and salt / pepper. Bake at 400F (204C) for approximately 20 minutes.

Note: We used thick-stalk asparagus. If you're using the thinner type, maybe cook four in each bunch and check the cooking time starting at 8 minutes.

2. In a small pot, heat balsamic on medium-high heat. Since it's going to be reduced, you'll want to start off with about four times as much as you think you'll actually need.

Bring it to a boil and simmer for a couple of minutes. I followed this recipe to make mine. Once it's done, set aside. It will thicken a lot more as it cools.

3. For each serving, start with a nest of mixed greens and top with as much, or as little, of the following items that you like: sliced apples, candied walnuts, and prosciutto-wrapped asparagus. Drizzle the reduced balsamic over the top. Finish with freshly shaved Parmesan cheese.

4. Eat it all and feel smug for being so fit and fancy.

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Recipe: Grilled Chicken and Corn Salad with Avocado and Parmesan.

I think it should come as no surprise to you that I'm not much of a healthy eater. I don't eat salads very often, and when I do, it's usually loaded with non-salady things. Like ranch dressing. And pizza.


I came across this recipe in my REAL SIMPLE: Easy, Delicious Home Cooking (Spring / Summer 2012) magazine. Eric and I decided to give it a whirl because it looked fairly uncomplicated and also because it involved Parmesan cheese. I love Parmesan cheese.

GRILLED CHICKEN AND CORN SALAD WITH AVOCADO AND PARMESAN

INGREDIENTS
1/4 fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 tbsp olive oil
Kosher salt and black pepper
2 6-oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 ears corn, shucked
5 oz. baby spinach
1 avocado, cut into bite-size pieces
2 oz. Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat grill to medium-high. In a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, rosemary, garlic, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Transfer half of this dressing to a small bowl; set aside. Add the chicken to the remaining dressing and coat.

2. Rub the corn with the remaining olive oil and seasons with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Grill the corn and chicken, covered, turning occasionally, until the corn is tender and charred, 4-6 minutes, and the chicken is cooked through, 8-10 minutes. Cut the kernels off the cobs and slice the chicken.

3. In a large bowl, toss the chicken, corn, spinach, and avocado with the reserved dressing. Top with shaved Parmesan.

NOTE:
We've always pan-grilled both the chicken and the corn, instead of grilling them outside. I'm sure the outside grills gives it a great charred taste, but just know that if you're in a pinch, a frying pan will work just fine. Also, if you're going to pan-grill the corn, try parboiling it for a few minutes first to soften up the kernels.

We've used both corn on the cob and canned corn. Both work fine.

This recipe is pretty much foolproof. Even after a few slip-ups on following directions, it still comes out just as tasty as the time before. I've gotten to the point where I combine all of the oil and herbs together at once, split half for chicken and half for corn, and then don't need any to dress my salad because everything else is already so flavorful. (As you can see in the salad above.) Really, it's foolproof.

This meal is surprisingly easy to make and leaves you satisfied and filled, without feeling heavy. The rosemary and lemon are the stars of the show, so make sure to buy fresh when it comes to those ingredients.

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Have You Heard of "Fresh Dish"...?

The premise behind this company is that healthy, flavorful meals can be made quickly (30 minutes or less) and right in your own kitchen.

Actually, I'm not sure if that's their premise. But based on my experience with them, it seems like it should be.

Based in Los Angeles, Fresh Dish offers an always-changing menu of entrees to choose from. Simply create an account and make your meal selections. Once you've placed your order, the ingredients typically arrive the following Tuesday and are delivered in a temperature controlled package. If you're not planning on cooking your meal that night, just make sure to store your packages in the refrigerator until the "use by" date.

Each package includes up to four servings.

I've made a few Fresh Dish meals and can't say enough good things about them. First, and most importantly, the ingredients are fresh and individually portioned so you know exactly how much of each item you're adding to your meal. Secondly, the recipes are super easy to follow and practically foolproof. Thirdly, the meals were very flavorful and filling and didn't leave us feeling weighed down or heavy. Considering how much of a non-chef I am, it was surprising how "professional" everything turned out. I should also mention that Fresh Dish's customer service is very helpful. I contacted them regarding a question about one of my meals and had no problem getting an answer.

Oven Roasted Salmon

 I may or may not have accidentally overcooked the zucchini.

Gorgonzola & Mushroom Risotto w/ Pear & Pomegranate Salad

If you:

A) Have a New Years resolution to eat healthier
B) Wish you cooked at home more, but don't know what to make
C) Want to impress someone with your home-cooked meal
D) Don't have time to plan a meal and buy groceries

Then Fresh Dish is ideal for you. For a fresh and healthy meal cooked in the comfort of your own home (that cost as little as $8 per meal), it's definitely worth a try. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Make sure to mention this blog when you place your order.

Just kidding. They have no idea who I am.

BUT - enter this promo code for a "buy 1, get 1 free" discount: FRESH4YOU

Fresh Dish is currently offered in most of California and select regions of Arizona and Nevada. Word on the street is, they will be expanding to the east coast in the next few weeks.

(I was not compensated in any way for this post. I just like eating good food and telling everyone about it.)

Boner'ppetite!

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