Asparagus Rolls with Pork

Method11 steps · about 20 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Mix the tablespoon each of soy sauce (1 tbsp), mirin (1 tbsp) and sake (1 tbsp) in a small bowl or jar. Keep this sauce ready for the cooked rolls.

   Uses 1 tbsp soy sauce · 1 tbsp mirin · 1 tbsp sake

2. 2

   Step 2: Wash all nine asparagus spears, trim their tough lower ends and cut each spear into two equal lengths. Keep each pair of halves together for one roll.

   Uses 9 thin asparagus spears, about 125 g total

3. 3

   Step 3: Bring enough water to blanch the asparagus to a boil and add the pinch of salt. Blanch all the prepared halves for thirty seconds to one minute, then drain and let them cool.

   Blanch asparagus halves · 1 minUses All eighteen prepared halves · Water for blanching the asparagus, as needed · 1 pinch salt for blanching water

4. 4

   Step 4: Spread the nine thin pork loin slices diagonally on a board. Put one top half and one bottom half of asparagus together at the near end of each slice, lining their ends up with the edge of the pork. This makes nine two-stick assemblies.

   Uses All eighteen blanched halves · 9 very thin pork loin slices, about 125 g total; about 2 mm thick

5. 5

   Step 5: Roll each assembly tightly away from you, adjusting the diagonal angle so the pork covers the asparagus from end to end. Make all nine rolls.

   Uses All nine laid-out assemblies

6. 6

   Step 6: Check that every roll is tightly wrapped, then place the finishing edge of each pork slice underneath to help keep it closed in the pan.

   Uses All nine formed rolls

7. 7

   Step 7: Heat all the tablespoon oil (1 tbsp) in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the prepared rolls with the finishing edges of the pork facing down.

   Uses All nine prepared rolls · 1 tbsp oil

8. 8

   Step 8: Fry the first side for about one minute until lightly browned. Turn the rolls and fry the other side for thirty seconds to one minute. These times are guides for very thin pork; continue as needed until the pork is cooked through.

   Brown both sides of thin pork rolls · 2 minUses All rolls with their cooking oil

9. 9

   Step 9: Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour all the prepared soy-mirin-sake sauce into the roll pan.

   Uses All cooked rolls and their pan · All prepared three-ingredient sauce

10. 10

    Step 10: Roll the cooked asparagus bundles through the bubbling sauce until evenly glazed and the liquid has almost evaporated. Remove the pan from the heat.

    Uses The complete roll-and-sauce pan

11. 11

    Step 11: If using the optional cucumber, wash it and cut decorative pieces or simple slices. Serve the nine warm rolls as three starter portions, with the cucumber alongside.

    Uses All nine finished glazed rolls · Cucumber for an optional decorative garnish, as desired