16 Nice Fat Asparagus Spears

16 Thin Slices of Ham

150g Mature Cheddar Cheese, grated

750ml Milk

50g Plain Flour

50g Butter

I often make this dish with baby leeks, but it works so well with asparagus – and it’s much easier to cut! Makes a great starter.

  1. Make the cheese sauce; melt the butter in a non-stick pan, add the flour and cook gently for a little while before adding the milk, a little at a time, mixing it in to form first a smooth paste and then, as you slowly add more milk, a smooth sauce the consistency of custard.
  2. Mix in most of the cheese and leave on a low setting/put to one side while you lightly steam the asparagus – it should be quite al dente, so literally 2-3 mins).
  3. Cool and wrap each spear in a slice of ham.
  4. Place in an oven-proof dish and pour over the cheese sauce.
  5. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top and bake for 15-20 minutes in a moderate oven. If the cheese on top isn’t bubbling when you take it out of the oven, place it under a grill for a few minutes before serving.

  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether

You may also like

Mega Mexican beef tacos

Few things bring a dish to life quite like a great spice blend. Dust Bros’ Mega Mexican is packed with bold, warming Mexican flavours, making it the perfect partner for these indulgent beef tacos. Combined with sweet peppers, onion and...

Soft boiled egg, blue cheese & walnut salad

Simple ingredients, beautifully brought together, can make for the most satisfying dishes. This soft-boiled egg, blue cheese and walnut salad is a celebration of contrasting flavours and textures, with creamy avocado, rich local blue cheese and crunchy walnuts finished with...

Lemon pepper Parmesan fries

Great cooking starts with great ingredients, and few things transform a dish quite like the right seasoning. In collaboration with Dust Bros, makers of small-batch spice blends and sister brand to the much-loved Benenden Sauce, we’ve gathered a selection of...