How to make roasted asparagus wrapped in Serrano ham
- Preheat your oven to 425°F/220°C. Cover a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Cut 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) from the base ends of the asparagus spears.
- Wrap a small handful of asparagus spears with a slice of Serrano ham. Roll on the diagonal to cover most of the asparagus spears.
- Place each wrapped bundle of spears on the baking tray, ensuring they do not touch.
- Drizzle lightly with olive oil and season with some cracked black pepper. No salt is required as the ham is salty enough.
- Bake for 10 minutes in the middle shelf of the oven.
- Remove from oven and flip each bundle and return to the oven. Bake for another 5 minutes. The ham should be slightly crispy once done.
- Remove from the oven and it’s ready to serve. This dish is best eaten while still warm.
Spanish-style roasted asparagus recipe
This roasted asparagus with Serrano ham recipe is a celebration of all things that are great about Spanish cooking. It’s quick and easy to make, uses a few choice ingredients, and most importantly, tastes incredible!
Some good quality extra virgin olive oil perfectly compliments the roasted asparagus spears and the crispy salty ham. A little cracked black pepper is all this dish needs to round it off and add a delicious layer of flavor and crunch.
When is asparagus in season?
The best season for asparagus harvesting is spring. Of course, you’ll find asparagus available year-round thanks to modern farming and the use of climate-controlled greenhouses.
Best asparagus spears to use
Use smaller, thinner spears for this recipe and bundle a small handful in each wrap. They will cook faster and there will be less sinew in the stalks allowing them to be eaten easily, especially when oven roasted with a good splash of extra virgin olive oil (the most nutritious variety).
Serrano ham
When it comes to Spanish ham, Serrano ham (jamón Serrano) has a special place in kitchens throughout Spain. It is used in everything from tapas recipes to generous slices being added to a bocadillo (a Spanish sandwich made with a baguette). If you like the idea of that, try our Jamón Serrano and Manchego cheese bocadillo recipe.
Serrano ham is rich and salty and crisps up perfectly when roasted. While it’s a quality full-flavored ham, it’s considerably cheaper than the prized jamón Iberico, and that is largely due to the time it takes to make Serrano ham.
How is Serrano ham made?
Serrano ham is made with the hind legs of white pigs and is not made with Iberian pig meat. The curing process of Serrano ham is considerably shorter when compared to jamón iberico, and hence Serrano ham is cheaper to produce.
Below are the processes used to make delicious Spanish Serrano ham:
Salting
The ham legs are covered with salt and allowed time to dehydrate. This also prevents the buildup of any harmful bacteria in the ham. Depending on the weight of the ham leg, it will be cured in salt for around 14 days.
Washing
The legs are then washed and salt is removed from the skin. They are then stacked ready for the next stage.
Post-salting and drying
The ham legs are transferred to a temperature and humidity-controlled room and dried for a period of 45 to 90 days, depending on the size and weight of each leg of ham.
Ripening and aging
The ham’s salt level will have neutralized and it now dries in a cellar or cave for a period of around 15 months for Reserva Jamón Serrano, and 18 months for Gran-Reserva Jamón Serrano.
Where to buy good quality Serrano ham
USA & Canada
Serrano ham is not too difficult to find in the USA and Canada and most large chain supermarkets such as Walmart or Costco will sell Serrano ham. You’ll find it either packed in a small 3 oz. (100g) packet, or as a whole leg which is about 15-17 lb (6.8-7.7kg).
It is also worth checking the deli or cold cuts section as many supermarkets will sell Serrano ham straight from the leg in any quantity you require. Depending on how long the ham has been aged will impact the cost per pound.
Shop for Jamón Serrano online
There is a good selection of online stores offering Jamón Serrano for comparable prices to what you find in supermarket chains. Stores such as Tienda.com offer a good range, as does jamonessinfronteras.com.
UK
Serrano ham is relatively easy to find in the UK and a majority of high-street supermarket chains will sell Serrano ham in 100g packets. Tesco offers 11-month cured Serrano ham for around £1.99 per 100g.
Australia
Head to your specialty butcher or Spanish specialty foods store to source the best Jamón Serrano to make this recipe. Supermarkets such as Coles, ALDI, and Woolworths also stock Serrano ham, and you can expect to pay around $50 per kilo for 12-month-aged Spanish Jamón Serrano.
FAQs: Serrano ham and roasted asparagus recipe
How long does roasted asparagus with Serrano ham take to make?
- Prep time: 5 minutes
- Cook time: 15 minutes
- Total time: 20 minutes
What’s the difference between Serrano ham and jamón Iberico?
The breed of pig and the aging and drying process are the two main factors that differ between Serrano ham and jamón Iberico.
What are the best asparagus spears to use?
Use smaller, thinner green spears for this recipe and bundle a few in each wrap. They will cook faster and there will be less sinew in the stalks.
Best time to buy asparagus?
Spring is the best time of the asparagus harvesting calendar.
Nutrition facts
| Serving size: 50g | |
| Servings: 4 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 111 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 9.2g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat 1.8g | 9% |
| Cholesterol 14mg | 5% |
| Sodium 325mg | 14% |
| Total Carbohydrate 3g | 1% |
| Dietary Fiber 1.4g | 5% |
| Total Sugars 0.9g | |
| Protein 5.2g | |
| Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
| Calcium 19mg | 1% |
| Iron 1mg | 8% |
| Potassium 175mg | 4% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
