Every Christmas, Crystalās family (the Cook side) gets together for a holiday party at her Aunt Mary Annās. Since the family is so large, itās the one time of year that everyone makes the effort to be there to visit with one another. Everyone brings a dish for the buffet, and we all eat like kings and queens. Crystalās Aunt Sonja is known as one of the familyās best cooks. Always aiming to impress her guests, she relies on this side dish to do just that. And if you ever thought asparagus was boring, youāll change your mind once you taste it all dolled up with shallots, artichokes, and baby portobella mushrooms. Itās a real showstopper.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350Ā°F. Coat a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
Step 2
Hold an asparagus spear with both hands, about 2 inches from the ends. Gently bend the asparagus until it snaps. It will break at the point where the stem is too tough to be enjoyable; discard the stem. Repeat for all your asparagus. Cook the asparagus in boiling water until crisp tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Step 3
Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a medium sautƩ pan set over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic, and sautƩ until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the artichoke hearts and mushrooms, and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Season with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Set aside.
Step 4
Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a small bowl. Add the cracker crumbs and stir well. Put three-quarters of the cracker crumbs into the prepared casserole dish. Spoon the artichoke mixture on top of the crumbs and top with the asparagus.
Step 5
Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of the butter in a saucepan set over medium heat. Add the flour and cook until it turns light brown and forms a paste. Slowly stir in the cream, cayenne, paprika, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring, until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Pour the sauce over the vegetables, and sprinkle with the cheese and the remaining cracker crumbs.
Step 6
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted.
notes
Step 7
Vegetarian friendly!
Step 8
Paprika is made from ground dried bell peppers or chiles. It can range from sweet to spicy, depending on the kind of pepper used. Smoked paprika is generally harder to find than regular mild paprika, but take it from Crystalāitās worth the effort. This dish benefits from the added rich, smoky flavor.
