Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

Name: Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 24 asparagus spears, woody ends trimmed; 12 thin-cut bacon rashers, halved lengthways; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1/4 tsp fine salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground; 1 lemon, cut into wedges, to serve

Tender asparagus wrapped in crisp bacon and roasted until the edges are deeply golden, making an easy British-style side dish for Sunday lunches, steaks, or weeknight dinners.

30 mins Serves 4Oven

Ingredients ↓Method ↓

Ingredients

24 asparagus spears, woody ends trimmed
12 thin-cut bacon rashers, halved lengthways
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp fine salt
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
1 lemon, cut into wedges, to serve

Method

10 mins prep20 mins cook30 mins total

Heat the oven to 200°C fan. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
Trim the woody ends from the asparagus and pat the spears dry. Brush them lightly with olive oil and season with the salt and pepper.
Wrap each pair of asparagus spears with half a bacon rasher, keeping the bacon in a single layer. Arrange the bundles seam-side down on the tray.
Roast for 15–20 minutes, turning the tray halfway through, until the bacon is crisp and the asparagus is tender.
Transfer to a serving plate and offer with lemon wedges while hot.

Notes

Place the bacon seam underneath on the tray; if the rashers are broad, halve them lengthways so they wrap the spears in a single layer and crisp evenly.

About this recipe

Asparagus spears wrapped in bacon make a simple side dish with plenty of contrast: the bacon turns crisp and savoury while the asparagus stays tender with a little bite. A short roast in a hot oven keeps the preparation straightforward and lets the vegetables develop lightly browned edges.

Choose slim to medium spears so they finish at the same time as the bacon, and place the bundles with the seam underneath to help them hold their shape. Serve them straight from the tray alongside roast meats, grilled fish, or a simple grain salad.