The Painted Apron

Party Panache, Asparagus Party Sandwiches

Posted by the Painted Apron on September 14, 2012 · 3 Comments 

Easy to make, a breeze to serve, sure to please because they are warm and creamy liked grilled cheese, and yes, they FREEZE!

I make these often, and wrap and freeze extras before cooking.  For parties you can cut them into 4 triangles for an appetizer bite, or cut in 1/2 to serve with a salad or soup.  You can also make a rolled up version and serve whole as a log or cut into bites.  You can bake these on a baking sheet or grill them in a skillet.  Versatile!

Here’s all you need, some bacon, green onions, mayo, cream cheese, fresh asparagus and good ole Pepperidge Farm Very Thin white bread

Break off tough ends of asparagus, rinse and toss into skillet with 1-2 T water.  Turn to medium high and cover.

I don’t have a lid that fits this skillet so I just put one right down on top of the asparagus.  DO NOT walk away at this point because the asparagus will be done in 2-3 minutes.  It will steam quickly in the small amount of water.  When it is bright green and still a little crisp,
remove skillet from heat and place asparagus in a colander and run cold water over it to stop the cooking process so the asparagus will remain crisp tender.

Mix the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl, mashing with a fork

It will be thick and lumpy bumpy

Set up a little assembly line…

and spread one side of bread slices with cream cheese mixture

and put asparagus on every other piece of bread.  You can chop asparagus if you want, it is easier to eat that way, but being the drama lover I am I like to see the whole spear sticking out the sides here and there.

Assemble sandwiches

Wrap and refrigerate or freeze until cooking time.

Hungry Husband and I are having these for dinner with a salad topped with Chick Fil-A nuggets so I just buttered them and cooked them in a skillet like I would cook a grilled cheese.  We only ate two so I saved the extra one and reheated it the next day.  If I was making these for a crowd I would bake them on a cookie sheet in the oven at 400, turning after about 6 minutes and baking total 10-12 min.

Yum!

This is the rolled version of the sandwich.  It makes a nice presentation for a ladies luncheon or on a tray for brunch.  Asparagus in a blanket?  Asparagus Cigars?

You can also cut them into 1/3s and serve with a party pick or up-ended sushi style.  I wish I wasn’t so lazy and had taken a picture of that! Any way you decide to create your dish it is sure to be a big hit!

Here’s the recipe:

ASPARAGUS SANDWICHES or ROLL-UPS

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine American, Southern

Ingredients

  

• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
• 4 T chives
• 1 c mayo
• Pepperidge Farm thin sliced white bread crusts removed if you like fancy
• 1 bunch, 30-40 asparagus spears, cooked crisp tender
• softened butter [I use Fleishmann’s Olive Oil spread]

Instructions

 

• Combine cream cheese, mayo, bacon and chives, mashing with a fork
• Spread on bread slices.
• This makes 8-10 whole sandwiches, or 16-20 roll-ups
• Top each slice with 2-3 spears and roll up. Or make sandwiches by laying 6-10 spear halves on 1 bread slice and topping with another.
• Spread outsides of bread with butter.
• Bake on cookie sheet at 400 for 12 min.
• Cut rolls into 1/2s or 1/3s or serve whole. Can be frozen.

Notes

This makes a good side dish also, leave the rolls whole and place in a casserole dish. You can also just make sandwiches and bake or grill and cut into 1/4s or 1/2s.

Keyword appetizer, asparagus, asparagus sandwich, bacon, party food, tea sandwich