Roasted Asparagus Bundles

500g of asparagus
Olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic - finely minced
Pancetta or center-cut bacon
1/4 Cup fine bread crumbs
1 Tablespoon fresh parsley - finely chopped
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper

Method

Trim the asparagus and cook them in boiling water a minute or two until they are crisp-tender. Drain, plunge into cold water to stop the cooking process, then drain them well. In a griddle or frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until lightly golden. Add the bread crumbs, stir and cook until they are toasted. Place the mixture in a bowl. Add the parsley, lemon zest, and Parmesan. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Lightly coat the asparagus with olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste.

Butter a baking dish, and preheat the oven to 450.

Divide the asparagus into bundles. Wrap each with a piece of pancetta or bacon, then lay the bundles in the buttered baking dish. Put a bit of the seasoned bread crumbs on top of each bundle. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy.