Asparagus all Milanese

Ingredients

• Kosher salt, or sea salt
• 20 jumbo asparagus spears, tough ends snapped off
• 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
• 1 tablespoon salt, plus salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 duck eggs (any other type of egg will do)
• Parmigiano-Reggiano, for grating
• 1 lemon, halved

Directions

Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon salt. Set up an ice bath nearby. Blanch the asparagus spears in the boiling water for 1 minute and 30 seconds, then remove and immediately refresh in the ice bath. Once cooled, remove the asparagus from the ice bath with tongs and drain slightly. Set aside.

In a 12 to 14-inch saute pan, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil over high heat. Add the asparagus and toss in the oil over high heat for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper, then divide evenly among 4 warmed dinner platters.

In a separate pan, add the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, and heat over medium-high heat. Crack the eggs into the pan, taking care to keep the yolks intact. Cook the eggs sunny-side up until the whites are firm but the yolk is still runny. Season each egg with salt and pepper, the carefully slide 1 egg onto each serving. Grate the cheese over each plate, season with a squeeze of lemon juice and salt and pepper. Serve immediately.