Name: Asparagus with dipping sauces
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 24 asparagus spears, trimmed; juice 1 lemon; 85g butter cut into small chunks; 25g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), finely grated; ½ red chilli; 1 tsp brown sugar; juice 1 lime; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp sesame oil; 2 garlic cloves crushed; 5 tbsp good-quality mayonnaise; 1 tbsp olive oil

24 asparagus
spears, trimmed

For the parmesan & lemon butter

juice 1 lemon
85g butter
cut into small chunks
25g parmesan
(or vegetarian alternative), finely grated

For the asian dressing

½ red chilli
1 tsp brown sugar
juice 1 lime
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp sesame oil

For the garlic mayonnaise

2 garlic cloves
crushed
5 tbsp good-quality mayonnaise
1 tbsp olive oil

Method

step 1
To make the Parmesan butter, tip the lemon juice into a small saucepan and, over a very low heat, add the butter. Melt and stir the butter into the lemon juice until you have a smooth sauce, add the Parmesan and season to taste, then set aside.
step 2
To make the Asian dressing, using a pestle and mortar, crush the chilli with the brown sugar, then stir in the lime juice until the sugar has dissolved. Stir through the soy sauce and sesame oil, then set aside.
step 3
For the garlic mayonnaise, mix all the ingredients together. Decant the sauces into 3 serving dishes.
step 4
Bring a large pan of water to the boil and cook the asparagus for 2-3 mins until just tender. Drain well and serve steaming hot in a pile for everyone to help themselves and dip into the sauce of their choice.