Asparagus Grilled Cheese
Posted: August 24, 2022 Updated: October 19, 2022
Asparagus grilled cheese or asparagus cheese on toast is a delightful upgrade to your classic snack. Made using tinned / canned asparagus you can make this at any time with stock from your pantry.
I ate this quite often as a kid, it was something my parents would whip up as a lunch on the weekends. It’s got it all, the crunch toast, squishy soft asparagus, gooey melted cheese, tangy citrus and the freshly cracked pepper to top it off.
These days I happily eat it as a lunch or brunch item. If you’re after more brunch inspiration why not check out these cheesy egg cups or if you’re feeling adventurous a Dutch baby pancake.
What is canned asparagus?
First things first – it is not at all like fresh asparagus. The canning process, like with all vegetables and fruit requires thorough cooking. What you get with canned asparagus is a similar consistency to canned peas – soft but still with plenty of flavour.
What other uses are there for canned asparagus besides grilled cheese?
The other recipe I recall from my childhood are these dainty finger sandwiches with a single asparagus spear in each one. Basically you cut the crusts off of a piece of white bread, smear it with cream cheese, place a spear inside and then fold over opposite corners to wrap it. The corners are held in place by a toothpick.
It’s a great afternoon tea item!
Another common use I see is in quiches and frittatas. Personally I think fresh asparagus would work better, to give a bit more texture but it’s good in a pinch!
Where can I buy canned asparagus?
In Australia canned asparagus is quite typical with both Coles and Woolworths selling it in tins under their own label. John West and Egell also produce canned asparagus and you’ll likely find these in IGA and independent grocers.
In the United Kingdom it’s a little trickier – when I lived there the only store I found it in was Waitrose. Having said that my local Tesco and Sainsbury’s were on the smaller side so you might have better luck at bigger stores.
In the United States the Del Monte brand produces tinned asparagus – I think you can buy it at Target and I’m sure it’s available at most grocery stores. Let me know in the comments!
Can I use fresh asparagus?
Absolutely! You’ll just need one extra step – cook your fresh asparagus first and then proceed with the recipe. You can cook your fresh asparagus most easily by:
Boiling
Toss your asparagus into a pan of boiling water and cook for about a minute or until just tender. Thicker stems will take a bit longer than the super thin ones.
Roasting
Place your asparagus on a tray in a single layer and bake for eight to twelve minutes at 180C. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the stems.
Asparagus Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 can Asparagus spears or pieces see notes below
- 100 gram shredded cheese or four cheese slices mozzarella or tasty (cheddar) cheese are perfect
- 1 wedge lemon or lime
- chilli flakes
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Toast your bread in the toaster. This will firm it up and stop it going soggy.
- Open the asparagus and drain well. The better drained the less wet your bread will be.
- Lay out your pieces of toast and divide the asparagus pieces or spears amongst the bread. Spread it out right to the edge.
- Top each piece of toast with a slice of cheese or a sprinkle of grated cheese.
- Turn on your grill and place the prepared toasts inside. Watch closely for the cheese to melt to your liking.
- Remove from the grill and squeeze your wedge of lemon or lime over the cheese.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste, add chilli flakes if you'd like a little kick.
- Enjoy!