Bacon-Wrapped Grilled Asparagus
Bacon-Wrapped Grilled Asparagus
We all love bacon and we all love asparagus! Who knew how amazing these two were together . . . like peas and carrots. Wow! I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, since everything tastes great with bacon; you can’t go wrong. But another big WOW for how easy these are! We’ll be making these little wraps a lot more often, especially now that grilling season is here.
The arrival of asparagus in the produce aisles heralds the onset of spring particularly here in Idaho as our winter vegetables are somewhat limited. So when I start to see asparagus, artichokes and even strawberries a aplenty, I start to get a little excited. Even in my garden, the ground phlox and basket of gold are now almost fully bloomed (a little early this year due to much warmer temperatures than normal), and the pear tree blossoms just popped. So beautiful!
Asparagus is one of the richest sources of vitamin K we can eat. It’s also high in folic acid, vitamin C and a multitude of phytochemicals that fight inflammation. Furthermore, the fibers in asparagus, much like artichokes are super healthy for the digestive system. But it is one of the most perishable vegetables so be sure to wrap the bottoms of the asparagus with a wet paper towel before you cover and store in your refrigerator. Also try to eat within 48 hours of purchase.
I wish I could say all the above about bacon, but I can’t. It’s high in fat, namely saturated fat, high in cancer-causing nitrates and nitrites although you can easily purchase nitrate and nitrite-free bacon. Hormel Naturals is a brand of bacon free of those chemicals. I will often buy center-cut bacon as it has less fat and more meat. I don’t eat bacon that often and when I do I limit myself to a slice or two. This recipe only calls for a slice of bacon per serving. Enjoy the flavor additives of bacon. For those who enjoy it, turkey bacon offers a much healthier alternative.
- Bacon-Wrapped Grilled Asparagus
- 16 spears asparagus, washed and trimmed
- Fresh ground black pepper
- 4 slices center-cut bacon, cut in half lengthwise
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Place asparagus spears on a sheet of waxed paper; coat with cooking spray. Sprinkle with pepper; turn to coat. Wrap a bacon piece around two spears; secure ends with toothpicks.
- Grill, uncovered, over medium heat for 4-6 minutes on each side or until bacon is crisp. Discard toothpicks.
You might also enjoy:
Spring Vegetable Crustless Quiche
Spring Vegetables and Chicken Peanutty Pasta
