Gourmet Parmesan Herb Asparagus with Prosciutto and Pine Nuts: An Irresistible Side Dish

Welcome, fellow food lovers! Today, we’re diving into one of our absolute favorite vegetables: asparagus. Its vibrant green spears and subtly earthy flavor make it a stellar addition to countless dishes, whether starring in a main course or beautifully complementing your favorite proteins. This recipe for Parmesan Herb Asparagus with Prosciutto and Pine Nuts isn’t just a side dish; it’s a culinary experience designed to elevate any meal, transforming simple ingredients into something truly special.

Asparagus holds a special place in our kitchen for its versatility, ease of preparation, and incredible taste. It pairs wonderfully with steak, chicken, pork, and even fish, making it a go-to choice for both everyday dinners and special occasions. If you’re looking for an asparagus recipe that delivers maximum flavor with minimal fuss, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll guide you through our foolproof method for perfectly cooked, tender, and intensely flavorful asparagus every single time.

Mastering Asparagus: Our Signature Foil-Packet Roasting Method

When it comes to cooking asparagus, we’ve discovered a method that consistently yields perfectly tender, flavorful results without the risk of overcooking or drying out. Our preferred technique combines the best aspects of steaming and roasting, all within a convenient foil packet. This innovative approach ensures that each asparagus spear is cooked to perfection while absorbing all the delicious aromatics and seasonings.

Why Foil-Packet Roasting?

• Steam Perfection: By wrapping the asparagus tightly in foil, you create a mini-steamer effect in your oven. This gentle cooking environment helps the asparagus become incredibly tender without losing its vibrant color or vital nutrients.
• Flavor Infusion: The enclosed space allows the butter, lemon juice, herbs, and other seasonings to meld beautifully and infuse deep into the asparagus spears. Every bite is bursting with flavor, from the savory prosciutto to the bright lemon notes.
• Easy Cleanup: Forget scrubbing baking sheets! The foil packet keeps all the juices and residues contained, making cleanup an absolute breeze. Simply discard the foil, and you’re done.
• Consistent Results: This method minimizes guesswork. Whether your asparagus spears are thin or thick, the foil packet helps regulate the cooking, leading to consistently excellent results.

To execute this method, simply preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Once your ingredients are assembled and sealed in their foil pouch, the asparagus will typically cook for 10 to 15 minutes. The exact time will depend on the thickness of your asparagus; thinner spears will cook faster, while thicker ones might need a couple of extra minutes. For average-sized asparagus (about the thickness of your pinkie finger), we usually find 12 minutes to be the sweet spot.

Crafting the Ultimate Side: Parmesan Herb Asparagus with Prosciutto and Pine Nuts

This particular recipe elevates basic roasted asparagus into a gourmet experience by combining a carefully selected array of ingredients that contribute to its rich flavor and delightful texture. We’ve chosen chopped shallots, lightly pan-fried prosciutto, fresh lemon juice, freshly cracked black pepper, and our star seasoning: Veggie Season’s Parmesan Herb seasoning. Each component plays a crucial role in creating a symphony of tastes that will impress even the most discerning palates.

While this recipe offers a meticulously crafted flavor profile, the beauty of the foil-packet method is its adaptability. Once you’ve mastered the basic cooking technique, you can easily customize the herbs and spices to suit your personal preferences or to complement the main protein you’re serving. We frequently experiment with different variations, adjusting the seasonings to create unique pairings. So, feel free to unleash your culinary creativity and explore new ingredient combinations!

The Power of Key Ingredients

Shallots: The Secret to Subtle Onion Flavor

Shallots are a chef’s secret weapon for adding a delicate, slightly sweet onion flavor without the intensity or pungency of a regular onion. In this recipe, finely chopped shallots melt into the butter and lemon juices during cooking, imparting a sophisticated depth of flavor that’s truly irresistible.

Many people who claim to dislike onions are pleasantly surprised by shallots. Once cooked, shallots lose their sharpness and develop a sweet, mellow character that enhances the overall dish. We highly recommend trying this recipe with shallots first before considering omitting them entirely. You might just discover a new favorite ingredient! If you are absolutely against any onion flavor, a small amount of garlic powder or a sprinkle of fresh chives can offer a different but still complementary aromatic touch.

Prosciutto: A Taste of Italian Elegance

While bacon is a popular choice for adding salty, savory notes to dishes, we almost exclusively opt for prosciutto in this recipe for its distinct and superior characteristics. Prosciutto, a traditional Italian dry-cured ham, is typically served thinly sliced and uncooked, offering a nuanced flavor that differs significantly from American-style cured and smoked pork belly (bacon).

You can typically find high-quality prosciutto in the deli section of most grocery stores. Its flavor profile is less smoky and often sweeter than bacon, with a rich, savory depth that perfectly complements the asparagus and herbs. The texture is also much more delicate and tender, especially after a quick pan-fry.

If prosciutto isn’t readily available, or if you prefer a different profile, consider these alternatives:

• Serrano or Iberico Ham: These are Spanish dry-cured hams, very similar to prosciutto in texture and savory flavor. They would make an excellent substitute, offering that desired delicate ham note.
• Pancetta: This is Italian unsmoked bacon. While it’s cured like bacon, it lacks the smoky flavor, making it closer to prosciutto in terms of savory ham notes. Dice it and render it slightly before adding.
• Lean Bacon: If using traditional bacon, choose a lean variety to avoid excessive greasiness. More importantly, we strongly recommend simmering the bacon in water for about 3-4 minutes before pan-frying. This crucial step helps to remove much of its intense saltiness and some of its smokiness, making it a more balanced addition to this delicate asparagus dish. After simmering, pat it dry thoroughly before lightly browning.

Before adding the prosciutto to the foil pouch, we give it a brief pan-fry—just 10-15 seconds per side—in a dry skillet. This light browning not only enhances its flavor and gives it a slightly crispier texture but also makes it much easier to cut into strips. Raw, thinly sliced prosciutto can be notoriously difficult to handle and separate, so this pre-cook step is a simple hack for better preparation.

Choosing Your Seasoning: The Veggie Season’s Advantage

For this particular recipe, our absolute favorite and highly recommended seasoning blend is Veggie Season’s Parmesan Herb. This blend is a game-changer because it combines the savory richness of Parmesan cheese with a perfectly balanced medley of aromatic herbs, all in one convenient shake. This means you can achieve a complex, restaurant-quality flavor profile without needing to measure out multiple individual spices and cheeses.

Veggie Season’s offers an impressive lineup of six distinct flavors, each designed to elevate your vegetable dishes effortlessly. Beyond Parmesan Herb, you can explore Roasted Garlic Butter, Sharp Cheddar, Spicy Herb, Red Pepper Cajun, and Farmhouse Ranch. We’ve had the pleasure of trying several of these blends on our asparagus, and we can confidently say you truly can’t go wrong with any of their expertly crafted combinations. They are a fantastic way to add a burst of flavor to any vegetable.

Ready to try them out? Find all of Veggie Season’s incredible flavors HERE. Plus, use the exclusive promocode COOKINGWITHWINE40 for a generous 40% off orders over $15! Don’t miss this opportunity to stock your pantry with these amazing flavor boosters.

For more inspiration, check out some of our other delicious recipes featuring Veggie Season’s blends:

• Homemade Garlic Fries and Lemony Herb Garlic Aioli
• Farmhouse Ranch Smashed Potatoes
• Spicy Cajun Roasted Cauliflower

Visual Guide: Assembling Your Asparagus Foil Packet

To help you visualize the process, here’s a step-by-step photographic guide to assembling your perfect asparagus foil packet:

The Grand Finale: Don’t Forget the Toppings!

Once your asparagus is perfectly cooked and tender, the next step is crucial for unlocking its full potential: serving it with all the delicious juices. Carefully open the foil pouch (watch out for steam!) and transfer all the contents, including the flavorful liquids, into a serving bowl. During cooking, the butter and lemon juice meld with the savory prosciutto and aromatic shallots to create an exquisite sauce that you absolutely don’t want to miss. This “sauce” beautifully coats the asparagus, enhancing every bite.

While the asparagus is delicious on its own at this stage, adding a few simple toppings will elevate this side dish from great to extraordinary. We highly recommend incorporating toasted pine nuts and buttered toasted breadcrumbs for a delightful textural contrast and an extra layer of flavor.

• Toasted Pine Nuts: Toasting pine nuts is a simple yet impactful step. A few minutes in a dry skillet over medium heat brings out their inherent nuttiness and deepens their flavor, adding a wonderfully rich aroma and a satisfying crunch.
• Buttered Toasted Breadcrumbs: These add a delicate crispness that contrasts beautifully with the tender asparagus. The buttery crunch provides a textural sensation that makes each mouthful more interesting and enjoyable.

These finishing touches are simple to prepare but make a profound difference, transforming a simple vegetable side into a dish that feels truly gourmet and thoughtfully crafted.

Enjoy Your Culinary Creation!

We are incredibly excited for you to try this recipe for Parmesan Herb Asparagus with Prosciutto and Pine Nuts! It’s a dish that consistently receives rave reviews in our home, and we’re confident it will become a new favorite in yours too. Its perfect blend of savory, tangy, and nutty flavors, combined with the tender-crisp texture of perfectly cooked asparagus, makes it an unforgettable addition to any meal.

If you give this delicious recipe a try, we would absolutely love to hear about your experience! Please leave us a comment below to share your thoughts, tips, or any creative variations you came up with. And if you capture some beautiful photos of your culinary masterpiece, be sure to post them on Instagram and tag us @cooking_with_wine! We love seeing your creations and connecting with our amazing community of home cooks.

Looking for more delicious and inspiring recipes? Explore some of our other popular creations below. We’re always experimenting with new flavors and techniques to bring you exciting dishes that are both approachable and incredibly tasty.

• Spicy Cajun Roasted Cauliflower
• Parmesan Peppercorn Mashed Potatoes
• Homemade Garlic Fries
• Spicy Grilled Watermelon Salad
• Crunchy Chicken with White Wine Lemon Butter Sauce
• Spicy Ginger Garlic Shrimp Skewers

📖 Recipe: Parmesan Herb Asparagus with Prosciutto and Pine Nuts

A gourmet asparagus side dish that’s perfect for elevating any meal with incredible flavor and texture!

• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 25 mins
• Course: Side Dishes
• Cuisine: American
• Servings: 4 servings
• Calories: 185 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 bunch asparagus (about 1 lb)
• 4 slices prosciutto
• 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 small shallot, finely chopped
• Juice of half a lemon (about 1 tablespoon)
• 1-2 tablespoon Veggie Season’s Parmesan Herb seasoning (or 2-3 tbsp fresh grated Parmesan cheese)
• ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 2 tablespoon pine nuts
• 2 tablespoon toasted breadcrumbs

Instructions

1. Prepare Oven & Asparagus: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Wash asparagus thoroughly and snap or cut off the bottom 2 inches of the woody stems. Set aside on a clean surface.
2. Cook Prosciutto: In a dry skillet over medium heat, add the prosciutto slices. Lightly brown them for approximately 10-15 seconds per side, just enough to slightly crisp and bring out their flavor. Remove from heat, let cool slightly, then cut into bite-sized strips. Set aside.
3. Assemble Foil Pouch: Lay a long sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil on a flat work surface. Ensure the foil is long enough to easily fold over and seal the contents like an envelope. Place the prepared asparagus spears on one half of the foil sheet, about 3 inches from the short end. If you have a larger bunch, you can slightly stack the asparagus.
4. Flavor the Asparagus: Evenly sprinkle the chopped shallots and the prepared prosciutto strips over the asparagus. Dot the 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter over the top. Squeeze the fresh juice of half a lemon over everything, ensuring an even coating. Finally, generously sprinkle with 1-2 tablespoons of Veggie Season’s Parmesan Herb seasoning (or use fresh grated Parmesan cheese) and finish with ½ teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper.
5. Seal the Pouch: Carefully fold the other half of the foil sheet over the asparagus and align the two short edges. Starting from one end, tightly fold the edges inward, creating a sealed pouch or “envelope.” Ensure there are no gaps for steam or juices to escape.
6. Roast: Place the sealed foil pouch on a baking tray (this catches any potential leaks and makes transfer easier). Transfer the tray to the preheated oven. Cook for 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of your asparagus spears. For standard-sized asparagus, we recommend 12 minutes for tender-crisp results.
7. Prepare Toppings: While the asparagus is roasting, prepare your toppings. In a separate dry skillet over medium heat, toast the pine nuts for about 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are lightly golden brown and emit a fragrant, nutty aroma. Remove immediately to a small bowl to prevent burning. If you don’t have buttered toasted breadcrumbs on hand, prepare them now (you can quickly toast regular breadcrumbs in butter in the same skillet).
8. Serve: Once the asparagus is cooked, carefully remove the baking tray from the oven. On your work surface, gently open the foil pouch, being mindful of the hot steam that will be released. Transfer the asparagus and all the accumulated flavorful juices to a serving dish. Garnish generously with the toasted pine nuts and buttered toasted breadcrumbs. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Nutrition Information (per serving)

• Calories: 185kcal
• Carbohydrates: 10g
• Protein: 7g
• Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 4g
• Trans Fat: 0.2g
• Cholesterol: 24mg
• Sodium: 174mg
• Potassium: 317mg
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 3g
• Vitamin A: 1071IU
• Vitamin C: 8mg
• Calcium: 102mg
• Iron: 3mg

Tried this recipe? Let us know how it was! We love hearing from you.