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Asparagus with brown shrimp

Asparagus with spiced butter & brown shrimp served on a rectangular dish

Asparagus with brown shrimp

Name: Asparagus with brown shrimp
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: Serves 4 as a starter or 2 for lunch
Ingredients: 60g unsalted butter; ½ tsp sea salt; ½ tsp cayenne pepper; ½ tsp ground mace; ¼ tsp pink peppercorns lightly crushed using a pestle and mortar; 500g asparagus spears, woody ends trimmed; 200g peeled brown shrimp (or see tip below); 2 wild garlic leaves plus a few to serve (optional), or handful finely shredded chervil or chives; 1 lemon juiced; a few chive flowers (optional); chunks of crusty white bread to serve

Rosie Birkett

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Serves 4 as a starter or 2 for lunch

Easy

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 5 mins

A star rating of 4 out of 5.1 ratingRate

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Try this easy asparagus dish with potted shrimp-inspired topping in pools of mace-spiked butter. It makes a memorable starter for a dinner party or smart lunch

Gluten-free

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Ingredients

Nutrition

Units:

MetricUS

60g unsalted butter
½ tsp sea salt
½ tsp cayenne pepper
½ tsp ground mace
¼ tsp pink peppercorns

lightly crushed using a pestle and mortar
500g asparagus

spears, woody ends trimmed
200g peeled brown shrimp

(or see tip below)
2 wild garlic leaves

plus a few to serve (optional), or handful finely shredded chervil or chives
1 lemon

juiced
a few chive flowers

(optional)
chunks of crusty white bread

to serve

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Nutrition: Per serving (4)

kcal195
fat14g
saturates8g
carbs2g
sugars2g
fibre3g
protein14g
salt1.4g

Method

step 1

Put a large platter in the oven to warm up. Gently melt the butter in a small saucepan over a low heat, then stir in the sea salt, spices and peppercorns. Remove from the heat.
step 2

To cook the asparagus, bring a little salted water (about 5cm deep) to the boil in a saucepan, making sure the saucepan is wide enough to fit the asparagus laying flat without crowding it. Add the asparagus and poach for 2-3 mins, or until a knife inserted into the thickest part of a spear can be pulled out with no resistance.
step 3

Meanwhile, return the spiced butter pan to the heat, then add the shrimp, wild garlic or herbs and lemon juice, basting the shrimps well. Taste and season, if necessary. Drain the asparagus and pile onto the warm platter, then pour over the shrimps and spiced butter. Garnish with the flowers, if using, then serve with chunks of crusty bread.

RECIPE TIPS

AN ALTERNATIVE TO BROWN SHRIMP

If you can’t get hold of brown shrimp, or you prefer a cheaper alternative, North Atlantic prawns work just as well. Or use hazelnuts if you’re vegetarian.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, May 2019

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