Cheddar Polenta With Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

8 steps · 45 min total

1. 01

   Preheat Oven

   Preheat your oven to 40 °C.
2. 02

   Wrap Asparagus

   Wrap the 6 thick asparagus spears using the two slices of raw bacon.
3. 03

   Prepare for Roasting

   Arrange the bacon-wrapped asparagus on a small baking sheet. Lightly spritz the bundle with nonstick cooking spray to help the bacon crisp up.
4. 04

   Roast Asparagus

   Sprinkle the asparagus with salt and pepper. Roast for 15–20 minutes, or until the bacon is visibly crispy and the asparagus spears are tender when pierced with a fork.
5. 05

   Simmer Polenta

   While the asparagus roasts, start the polenta. Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a small saucepan. Once boiling, stir in the coarse corn grits.

   Lower the heat and let it simmer slowly for about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking, until the mixture has thickened to a creamy consistency.

6. 06

   Add Cheese

   Stir in the extra sharp cheddar cheese until it's fully melted and incorporated into the polenta.
7. 07

   Season Polenta

   Add a dash of salt and pepper to the polenta, adjusting to your taste.
8. 08

   Serve Asparagus

   Scoop the creamy polenta into a dish and top it with the crispy bacon-wrapped asparagus.