Oval plate of grilled asparagus with soft boiled egg segments

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

Large handful of asparagus spears, trimmed (about 20 spears)

Olive oil, for cooking

1⁄2 lemon, for grilling

Anchovy dressing

1⁄4 cup/60 millilitres lemon juice

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon white vinegar

5 anchovy fillets

1 garlic clove

METHOD

To make the dressing, blend the ingredients to a paste. Adjust the thickness with extra olive oil if you like. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

For the asparagus, lightly brush the spears with oil and cook on a hot BBQ grill until lightly charred. While grilling, add halved lemon to the grill pan.

Served slightly warm with the dressing drizzled over and halved lemon on the side.

Note: This dish is made more vibrant with the addition of garnishes such as soft-boiled eggs, olives, lemon rind and a crumble of ricotta.

Nostrana cookbook cover

Recipe from Nostrana: Flavours from my Italian Kitchen Garden by Bri DiMattina.

Published by Harper Collins New Zealand, 2023. Hardcover, $55.

This recipe features in our Kōanga Spring 2023 Edition.

Related Stories

Puy Lentil & Walnut Salad

This recipe is all about how you cook the lentils. I will always cook lentils from scratch. They don’t take too long and the difference is everything.

Read More

Jaz Mathisen’s Sourdough Bread Recipe

This is the perfect loaf to make on a slow weekend when all you crave is something hearty and nourishing.

Read More

“Ooey Gooey” Toasted Cheese Sandwich with Spinach + Onion

This sandwich is a goodie for the weekend, when you have odds and ends of bread from the week hanging about.

Read More

Tomato Pilaf With Black Lentils & Caramelised Onion

This delicious and nutritious almost-one-pan-meal was inspired by Turkish tomato pilaf and Mujadara, a tasty combination of rice, lentils and onions found throughout the Middle East.

Read More

Out Now

Twenty-Sixth Edition

Our beautiful Takurua Winter 2026 Edition is out now.

Do you have a story to tell?

We'd love to hear it.