If you’re looking for an impressive appetizer that tastes as good as it looks, try this Asparagus Prosciutto Puff Pastry recipe!

Since the first time I made this prosciutto asparagus appetizer many, many years ago, I’ve incorporated it into every special occasion that has been held at my home. The reason: They are my husband’s absolute favorite.

Asparagus Prosciutto Puff Pastry appetizer

I’m always more than happy to make them for him. And prosciutto asparagus puff pastries are perfect for everything from Mother’s Day brunch to holiday parties. The red-green color combo and the spiral of the dough make them especially welcomed at Christmastime.

The name is a mouthful, and they might look complicated, but they’re really pretty simple: some prosciutto wrapped around asparagus and held together by a flaky puff pastry.

Try them and I bet they become one of your favorite appetizers to make and eat! But keep in mind that these prosciutto asparagus puff pastry bundles also make an elegant side dish.

Asparagus Prosciutto Puff Pastry Ingredients & Substitutions

Jump to Recipe

It takes just a handful of ingredients to make puff pastry asparagus wraps. All of the ingredients can usually be purchased at your local grocery store.

Asparagus

Fresh asparagus is a must. Canned or frozen will be too mushy. I prefer medium to thick asparagus for this dish. However, if all you can find is thin, you can use two asparagus together per wrap.

Prosciutto

Use a high-quality soft prosciutto. If it’s too hard, it will be difficult to wrap around the asparagus without cracking.

The biggest reason my husband loves these so much is the prosciutto. If you want to substitute regular ham, mortadella, or another type of Italian charcuterie for prosciutto, the concept will be the same, but the taste will obviously be different.

Puff Pastry

Of course, you can make homemade puff pastry, but that process can be very time consuming. To make this a quick and easy appetizer, purchase a box in the freezer section of your grocery store. A standard box will contain 2 small sheets. Each puff pastry sheet will yield 12 strips for the following recipe.

Asparagus Prosciutto Puff Pastry Recipe

Makes 24 

Ingredients

24 medium asparagus, trimmed to 6 inches in length 
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil 
⅛ teaspoon kosher salt 
⅛ teaspoon black pepper 
12 slices of prosciutto 
2 sheets of puff pastry, defrosted 
1 egg white (for optional egg wash)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400° and prepare 2 baking sheet pans lined with parchment paper that is lightly greased.

2. Brush the asparagus spears with olive oil, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

3. Cut each slice of prosciutto in half widthwise so that you have 24 pieces.

4. Keeping the tip of the asparagus spear exposed, wrap each asparagus in one piece of cut prosciutto. If your asparagus are very thin, include two in each bundle.

Prosciutto wrapped around asparagus spears

5. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the puff pastry dough so that you end up with 24 strips about ½-inch wide and 9 inches long.

6. Starting at the top of the prosciutto, wrap the puff pastry around the asparagus so that you see a strip of prosciutto between each twist of dough as you go around.

7. For each bundle, make sure both ends of the dough end up on the same side, and place that side face down on your prepared baking sheet.

Puff pastry wrapped prosciutto asparagus ready for the oven

8. In a small bowl, beat the egg white with a fork. Brush the dough lightly with egg wash to give the buttery puff pastry a light sheen.

9. Bake for approximately 15 minutes until pastry is golden brown.

10. Use a spatula to remove the asparagus pastry puffs from the baking sheet and place them on a serving platter.

Asparagus prosciutto puff pastry recipe complete and on serving platter

Tips to Make Ahead

As a chef, one of my favorite things about this yummy dish is that I can make it ahead of time. Here are some tips for three different ways to get a head start on serving day, from prepping to fully cooking. If you’re making large quantities, I encourage you to try one of these methods!

Prep the Asparagus

You can wash, salt, pepper, and olive oil the asparagus and wrap them in prosciutto. Store them in an airtight container and you’ll be ahead of the game the day you’re ready to wrap them in puff pastry and bake them.

Cook Ahead

Once the dough is wrapped around the prosciutto asparagus bundles, it’s best to cook them. But if you’re cooking them ahead of serving day, slightly underbake them so they are light brown rather than golden.

Cool them on a rack, then place them in an airtight container separated by wax paper or parchment paper and refrigerate.

To reheat, cook at 375° for about 5 minutes and serve.

Cook and Freeze

When I was a personal chef and doing catering as well, my schedule was nuts. But I figured out that I could actually freeze my Asparagus Prosciutto Puff Pastry (same method as refrigerating), defrost them overnight, and be all set the day of an event for reheating and serving.