Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus Spears with Tomatoes and Taleggio Cheese

Mike came up with this recipe during the first dinner we cooked together in our brand-new apartment! We were inspired by a similar dish we've had at an Italian restaurant, but used it as a side dish instead of an antipasti plate, and substituted the prosciutto with bacon. The cheese, a relatively mild cow's milk cheese, should be relatively easy to find because of its increasing popularity. Super easy to make, and super tasty!

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Calories: 429 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
• 4 slices hardwood smoked bacon
• 12 spears fresh asparagus, trimmed
• ¾ pound Taleggio cheese, cut into 1/4-inch pieces

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Step 2

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir garlic until fragrant, about 2 minutes.

Step 3

Stir asparagus and grape tomatoes into the garlic and drizzle with lemon juice. Continue to cook and stir until asparagus are tender, 5 to 7 minutes.

Step 4

Wrap 3 asparagus spears with 1 slice of bacon. Repeat with remaining asparagus and bacon, making 4 bundles. Arrange wrapped asparagus on a baking sheet.

Step 5

Scatter cooked grape tomatoes around the wrapped asparagus.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes, then scatter Taleggio cheese atop asparagus; return baking sheet to the oven.

Step 7

Continue baking until bacon is crisp, 5 to 7 minutes more.