Ingredients
- 2 cups bechamel sauce, recipe follows
- 1 pound fresh medium asparagus, rough ends removed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch freshly ground nutmeg, or to taste
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 eggs and 2 yolks
- 2 ounces butter
- 1/4 cup fresh bread crumbs, lightly toasted under broiler
- Bechamel: Balsamella
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups hot milk
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Fondata:
- 4 ounces fontina cheese
- 6 ounces heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Melt butter in a 2-quart saucepan until frothing. Remove from heat and stir in flour with a whisk. Cook over low heat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add 1/2 of the hot milk and whisk until smooth. Add remaining milk and whisk until smooth. Bring to boil, add nutmeg, lower heat and simmer 10 minutes. Can be used hot or cold.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Bring 4 quarts water to boil. Add 2 tablespoons salt. Blanch the asparagus until just tender (1 minute) and remove to ice bath and refresh. Once the asparagus has cooled, remove from the ice bath and pat dry.
Cut the cooled asparagus in 1/2. Cut the top 1/2 into 1/2-inch pieces and set the pieces aside. Place the bottom halves in a food processor and blend into a fine puree.
In a mixing bowl, mix the pureed asparagus, the bechamel, salt, nutmeg, Parmesan, eggs and yolks. Stir until thoroughly combined. Gently fold in the top halves of the asparagus pieces which had been previously set aside.
Butter an 8-inch bundt pan and coat with bread crumbs. Pour the asparagus mixture into the bundt pan. Fill a 12-inch baking pan 2/3 filled with hot water. Place the bundt pan on the baking pan, so that the bundt is standing in the hot water. Carefully place the baking pan (with the bundt pan) into the oven. Bake until the top of the sformatio is golden brown and a dipped toothpick comes out clean, about 35 to 40 minutes. Remove and allow to cool 15 minutes. Meanwhile, make the fondata.
To make the fondata: Mix the grated fontina, the heavy cream, and the salt and pepper in small saucepan. Heat gently, stirring constantly, until smooth and creamy.
To serve: Turn the sformato out onto a large plate. Cut into 2-inch slices and place the slices on serving plates. Spoon the fondata over the slices and serve immediately.
















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By mev_11903927
Greensboro, GA
on June 05, 2009
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This one of THE most delicious, sublime way to serve asparagus. Yes, it takes time...but the results are worth it. Made it for a very special family dinner and all I heard were OHS and AHS. It is light, delicate, rich and the presentation with the Fontina is beautiful. Initailly, when I tasted the Fontina sauce, I thought it was a little strong in taste by itself. However, that is NOT the way you eat it. Once it marries with the sformato - it is perfect. Thanks, Mario.
By leslie_miles_70...
Wilton, CT
on December 19, 2008
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I couldn't even give this one star but I couldn'tpost without providing rating. It was horrible.
By onyxofdarklite_...
Incline Village, NV
on January 07, 2008
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We are not a home of asparagus eaters. I went out on a limb to make this for Christmas this year. Oh my goodness! It was so awesome. The recipe itself was a little difficult to maneuvre, but no biggie, it was figured out. Oh.. that, AND it pays to read the recipe in its entirety before starting... lol... I didn't have a bundt pan and used round cake pans instead. It still seemed to fair okay, although I would not reccommend that for anyone. However, the food itself was very good, and the fondata was to die for. I will be making this again very soon, and would serve this dish to anyone who thought they didn't like asparagus, because after this dish, they will. Thanks Mario!
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