Baked Asparagus Fries

Did you all have a good super bowl or puppy bowl? Madonna is scary, no? I’ve been seeing pictures of her from the Super Bowl, and it literally scares me. Nightmare scary. Anyway, asparagus fries are actually pretty neat. They are surprisingly crispy. Asparagus is one of my favorite green things to eat, and this is a new way I have never had them before. Pretty good. These would also make a good side dish. The trio of sauces you can serve with them are pretty bomb. My favorite thing about these are the little asparagus spear tops. Super cute.
♥ Teri

Baked Asparagus Fries with Three Dipping Sauces
Makes 1 pound

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 lb asparagus, ends trimmed and cut in half
3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 eggs, lightly beaten
salt and pepper to taste
cooking spray

Dipping Sauces:
sun-dried tomato jam:
2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 medium sweet onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon honey
2 cups sun-dried tomatoes
2 teaspoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon oregano, minced
2 teaspoons thyme, minced
1 teaspoon rosemary, minced
1/2 cup red wine
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 1/2 cups water
salt and pepper to taste
roasted garlic aioli:
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1/4 cup salad oil (or a light flavored oil like vegetable oil)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 head roasted garlic, beaten to a paste
salt and pepper to taste
bleu cheese sauce:
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1/4 cup light sour cream
1/4 cup crumbled bleu cheese
2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 tablespoons chives, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Place almonds and panko in a food processor and pulse until the almonds are finely ground and well mixed. Pour mixture into a shallow dish.
3. Dredge cut asparagus spears in flour and shake off excess (not much flour will stick to the waxy spears, but that’s okay).
4. Dip each spear into the egg wash followed by the panko mixture. Cover each spear in the panko mixture until fully coated. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Place coated spears onto a parchment lined baking sheet and spray with a light coating of cooking spray. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until crisp and lightly
browned. Season with salt and pepper.
6. For tomato jam: Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Place first 6 ingredients into the pan and sauté for about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, oregano, thyme, and rosemary and continue to sauté for 3 minutes. Deglaze pan with the wine and vinegar and cook until almost all of the liquid has evaporated, about 3 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and lower the heat to medium. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the hot mixture into a food processor and pulse 3 times. Allow the mixture to cool.
7. For aioli: Place the egg yolk mustard and lemon juice into a mixing bowl and whisk together. In a measuring cup, stir together the two oils. Pour the blended oil into the yolk mixture, while whisking, until fully emulsified. Whisk the roasted garlic paste into the mixture and season with salt and pepper. Stir.
8. For bleu cheese sauce: Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl and whisk together. Season with salt and pepper.
9. Serve baked asparagus fries with the trio of dipping sauces.