Asparagus Hollandaise Recipe

Name: Asparagus Hollandaise
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 8 to 10 asparagus spears per person; 1 teaspoon salt; 4 whole eggs; 4 egg yolks; 8 slices boiled ham; 4 tablespoons dry white wine; 1 cup (100 grams) unsalted butter; Pinch of nutmeg; 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice; Pinch of salt; Pinch of ground white pepper; 2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 30 mins

Total: 45 mins

Servings: 4 servings

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Asparagus was once looked down upon as peasant food—note the humble way it was painted in 1697 by Adriaen Coorte in his "Still Life with Asparagus"—but the Dutch now consider white asparagus to be "white gold," deserving of a rich sauce to cloak each morsel. Hollandaise sauce is, of course, one of the five "mother sauces" of classic French cuisine, but some historians now believe that it was actually invented in the Netherlands and then taken back to France by returning Huguenots, hence the name.

A recipe for Hollandaise sauce appears in a Dutch cookbook by Carel Baten, which dates from 1593, while the earliest French recipe was published by La Varenne in 1651. Heritage aside, we think this simply is the best way to enjoy this delicate spring vegetable.

32 to 40 asparagus spears, 8 to 10 per person
1 teaspoon plus 1 pinch salt, divided
4 large eggs
4 large egg yolks
8 slices boiled ham
4 tablespoons dry white wine
1 cup (100 grams) unsalted butter
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 pinch ground white pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

Soak the asparagus in cold water as soon as you get them home.
Rinse and peel with a potato peeler, starting from just under the head and work your way down. Cut about 1/2 inch of the woody bits off the ends.
Place the asparagus and 1 teaspoon of salt in a large soup pot or a special asparagus pot. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil. Temper the heat slightly and allow to simmer for about 10 minutes. Take off heat and leave the asparagus in the hot water for 15 to 20 minutes, or until tender.
Meanwhile, boil the whole eggs.
Once boiled, chop finely. Thinly slice the ham.
For the Hollandaise sauce, beat the egg yolks and wine until light and frothy. Place the rest of the wine back in the fridge to cool.
Pour the egg-wine mixture into a saucepan and warm over a low heat on the stove, beating continuously until the sauce thickens.
In another saucepan, melt the butter.
Remove from the heat and add the melted butter in a thin trickle, while continuing to whisk.
Add the nutmeg, lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and white pepper. Whisk again, and set aside.
Gently drain the cooked asparagus. Be careful not to damage the tender heads.
Arrange on a serving plate with the asparagus spears facing in the same direction. Top with the Hollandaise sauce, chopped ham, and boiled eggs. Sprinkle with parsley, and serve with the rest of the chilled wine.

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs poses a risk of foodborne illness.

Tips

Figure on approximately 3 1/2 pounds of asparagus for four people.
If you're not able to use your asparagus right away, simply wrap it in a damp tea towel and keep it in the vegetable drawer of your fridge.
In a hurry? Use melted butter instead of Hollandaise. It's also a good backup plan if your Hollandaise breaks.
Hollandaise sauce is famous for breaking, and if you’d rather not take any chances, we advise using a double boiler. Simply place your bowl over a pan of gently boiling water and continue as directed above. A gentle heat and enthusiastic whisking will generally do the trick, however.
Asparagus Hollandaise can also be served as an appetizer by simply reducing the portion sizes.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
570	Calories
38g	Fat
9g	Carbs
47g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	570
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 38g	49%
Saturated Fat 18g	88%
Cholesterol 559mg	186%
Sodium 2022mg	88%
Total Carbohydrate 9g	3%
Dietary Fiber 3g	11%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 47g
Vitamin C 14mg	71%
Calcium 112mg	9%
Iron 5mg	25%
Potassium 974mg	21%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.