Roasted Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus over Brown Rice

Servings: 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cook time: 1 hour and 15 minutes Ready in: 1 hour and 30 minutes Ingredients • 1 pound (454 g) asparagus, ends trimmed • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) grass-fed raw milk butter (recommended: Organic Valley) • 12 slices of nitrite- or nitrate-free bacon • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) Dijon mustard • 4 cloves garlic, chopped Brown Rice: • 1 cup (240 ml) long-grain gluten-free brown rice • 2 cups (480 ml) water • 1/2 teaspoon (10 ml) unrefined sea salt • Note: For strict Paleo version, go for Cauliflower Rice (see Recipe No. 55) instead of Brown Rice Directions 1. Rinse brown rice under cold water. 2. Boil water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add the rice, and stir in the salt. Reduce the heat to low. Cover the saucepan and simmer for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Remove the pan from heat, cover, and let it sit to steam for 10 minutes more. 3. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. 4. Divide asparagus into 12 bundles (about 3 pieces each). 5. Rub each piece of asparagus with butter. 6. Combine mustard and garlic in a small bowl. 7. Roll a slice of bacon around each bundle of asparagus, then sprinkle with the mustard mixture. 8. Roast in a preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy. Serve over brown rice  

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Roasted bacon-wrapped asparagus bundles are the kind of side dish that disappears before the main course lands. Tender asparagus spears get rubbed with butter, rolled in nitrite-free bacon, and roasted until the bacon turns shatteringly crisp. A garlic-Dijon topping and a bed of rice turn it into a full plate.

Pro Tips

• Rub each asparagus spear with butter before wrapping. It bastes the vegetable from within and helps the bacon crisp evenly.
• Divide the asparagus into even bundles of about 3 pieces per slice of bacon. Uneven bundles cook at different rates and end up with floppy bacon.
• Roast at 425F until the bacon is genuinely crispy — the high heat is what renders the fat properly instead of leaving it chewy.
• For strict paleo, serve over cauliflower rice instead of brown rice as the recipe notes direct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bundles does this recipe make?

Twelve bundles — three per serving across four servings. It is a great appetizer-style side for a crowd.

Can I make these bacon-wrapped asparagus ahead of time?

Wrap the bundles a few hours ahead and refrigerate them, then roast just before serving. The bacon crisps best from cold.

What type of bacon should I use?

Nitrite- and nitrate-free bacon as the recipe recommends. Thick-cut bacon works, but it needs a few extra minutes to crisp through.

Is this recipe paleo?

The bundles are paleo as written; serve them with cauliflower rice rather than brown rice for a fully paleo plate.

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