Szparagi po polsku, z masłem i bułką tartą

Asparagus a la Polonaise in Butter and Breadcrumbs

Name: Asparagus à la Polonaise in Butter and Breadcrumbs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Polish
Ingredients: 1 bunch (1 lb, 500-500 g) asparagus, green or white; salt, for cooking; sugar, for cooking; small piece of lemon zest, optional; 2 tablespoons butter; 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs; 2-3 egg yolks, hard-boiled and finely chopped; 2-3 tablespoons parsley leaves, finely chopped; freshly squeezed lemon juice

“Tender asparagus stalks are coated in buttery toasted breadcrumbs, topped with chopped hard-boiled egg yolks and fresh parsley.”

How to pronounce it?
shpara-ghee poh polskoo
‘Play’ to hear:

Jump to Printable Recipe

Asparagus “à la Polonaise” is one of our favourite answers to the question of the quick springtime side dish.

In this classic recipe, green or white stalks are tossed in butter-toasted breadcrumbs and sprinkled with chopped hard-boiled egg yolks and parsley leaves.

For the full list of ingredients & detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post. But before you scroll, there’s important stuff to know below.

Polonaise Sauce (“À la Polonaise”) is a way of serving dishes with a crispy, buttery breadcrumb garnish.

Do you need any special ingredients or equipment?

No, as long as the asparagus is in season, everything else should be easily available in any well-stocked supermarket.

In Poland, asparagus is available all year round, but the season runs from May until the end of June. That’s when asparagus is at its best.

Choose a bunch of asparagus with straight stems, and avoid those wrinkly, dry ones with split or overly woody ends.

Equipment-wise, you’ll need:

vegetable peeler – but a sharp knife will do just fine.
wide skillet (frying pan), ideally with a lid (or a tall asparagus steamer, if you own one)
smaller skillet (frying pan)

What to serve it with?

Asparagus à la Polonaise can be served as a side dish, alongside:

fish (trout, salmon, white fish)
meats (roasts, steaks, Kotlet Schabowy, Mielony, Pulpety, zrazy) or…
kluski (various types of dumplings, such as Kopytka, Pyzy, Śląskie)

For a delicious vegetarian meal, serve it with young boiled potatoes, lightly sprinkled with chopped dill, together with a glass of cold Soured Milk.

Can you make it another way?

Sure, here’s how you could do this differently:

cook the asparagus your favourite way; by broiling, roasting or in a tall asparagus steamer
replace butter with olive oil
use homemade rye crumbs or flaky panko
instead of hard-boiling the egg, try poaching or frying it
dice whole boiled eggs (rather than just yolks)

What diets is it suitable for?

This recipe is suitable for vegetarians.

How long can you keep it in the fridge?

Once you’ve served the asparagus, ideally you should eat it within 4 hours.

If you allow any leftovers to cool, make sure to refrigerate them in a container with a lid. Alternatively, leave the asparagus on the serving plate and wrap it with cling film. Aim to consume within 3 days.

Can I freeze it?

No, this recipe doesn’t freeze well.

How do I reheat it?

We don’t recommend reheating this dish. It’s best to enjoy any leftovers cold, for example – as a part of a salad.

Asparagus a la Polonaise in Butter and Breadcrumbs

Recipe: step by step

Yield: 2

Asparagus à la Polonaise in Butter and Breadcrumbs

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 bunch (1 lb, 500-500 g) asparagus, green or white
salt, for cooking
sugar, for cooking
small piece of lemon zest, optional
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons breadcrumbs

Toppings:

2-3 egg yolks, hard-boiled and finely chopped
2-3 tablespoons parsley leaves, finely chopped
freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

Rinse the asparagus under cold running water. There’s no need to peel green asparagus, but if you’re using the white stalks, it’s worth peeling off their woody exterior with a vegetable peeler. Snap off and discard the woody ends (wherever they naturally break).

Shallow boiling

Add 1” (2.5-3 cm) of water to a wide frying pan (skillet) and bring it to a boil with a solid pinch of salt, sugar and a small piece of lemon zest (optional). Note: If you own a tall asparagus steamer, use it instead.
Add the asparagus in. If the water doesn't cover the asparagus completely, cover the skillet with a lid (to capture the heat of the steam).

Pro tip: The cooking time will depend on their size and freshness. Cook until just tender, about 3 to 5 minutes depending on thickness: 3 minutes for very thin, 5 minutes for average, 6-7 minutes for thicker and older stalks. As you wait, prepare the topping.

For Polonaise sauce / topping

In a small frying pan, melt two tablespoons of butter and add breadcrumbs. Gently fry until golden, over low heat, stirring from time to time. At the very end, add a squeeze of lemon juice.

Final touches

Remove asparagus from the heat and drain. Toss with the butter and breadcrumbs, and sprinkle with finely chopped egg yolks and parsley leaves. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 261Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 400mgSodium: 479mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 8g

Polonist is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more

Recipe Information

Filed under:

Appetisers, Sides & Salads

Spring

Alternative traditional/regional names:

Also known / Misspelt internationally as:
Asparagus with Breadcrumbs, Asparagus in Butter, Polish Asparagus

Tested by:

First published on:

Recipe by / Adapted from:

Story by:

Bibliography / References: