Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper (plus more for seasoning)
  • 5 slices thick-cut bacon
  • 1 pound asparagus (trimmed to 7-inch long spears)
  • Kosher salt (as needed for seasoning)

Instruction

  • Adjust the oven rack to the center position and preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C).
  • Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top.
  • Spray the rack with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Place 5 slices of bacon spaced evenly apart on the pan.
  • Roast until the bacon just begins to shrink and turns a slightly red color, but is still flexible, about 5 minutes, depending on thickness. The bacon should not be completely crispy, otherwise, it will break when wrapping around the asparagus.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, maple syrup, and black pepper.
  • Remove the bacon from the oven and brush with the maple syrup mixture on both sides. Roast the bacon for 3 more minutes.
  • Allow the bacon to cool until it’s easy to handle with your fingers. Divide the asparagus into five even-size bundles.
  • On a cutting board, wrap one slice of the par-cooked bacon overlapping over the length of the asparagus spears.
  • Secure the bacon with a toothpick. Carefully place the bundles on the baking rack. Generously brush the maple syrup mixture over the bacon-wrapped asparagus spears on both sides.
  • Lightly season each bundle with salt and pepper.
  • Roast the asparagus bundles for 10 minutes, remove from the oven and brush the maple mixture over just the bacon.
  • Roast for 5 minutes, or until the bacon is browned and crispy, and the asparagus is tender.
  • Remove the toothpicks and serve the bacon wrapped asparagus hot.