Ingredients

For the Asparagus -
16 to 20 stalks large or jumbo asparagus, tough ends broken off
1 tablespoon extra- virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon kosher salt
20 sprigs fresh thyme
4 slices La Brea Bakery Country White Sourdough bread (can substitute La Brea Bakery French Loaf or Organic Wheat Loaf)
1 garlic clove, peeled
For the Eggs -
2 tablespoons white- wine vinegar
Pinch of kosher salt
4 extra- large eggs
3 ounces Fontina or Gruyere cheese, sliced into 4 1/8- inch- thick slices
2 ounces prosciutto di Parma, prosciutto di San Daniele, or Serrano ham, thinly sliced into about 8 slices
Extra virgin olive- oil, for drizzling over the sandwiches
Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Method

To Roast the Asparagus:
Adjust the oven rack to the middle position, and preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
To check the asparagus for tenderness, bite into the end. If it’s stringy and tough, peel the outer layer of the bottom inch or two of each stalk. Place the asparagus in a large bowl, drizzle the olive oil over it, and sprinkle with salt, tossing to coat. Scatter 16 of the thyme sprigs onto a baking sheet and lay the asparagus stalks over them to cover. Roast in the oven for about 10 minutes, until tender to the touch yet firm in the center.
Brush the bread with olive oil and lightly brown each side in a heavy-bottomed pan or, better yet, a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet. Rub one side of each slice of bread with the garlic clove, and place on a baking sheet, garlic side up. Arrange the asparagus over each slice of bread and place on a baking sheet. Adjust the oven rack to the upper position, and preheat the broiler.
To Poach the Eggs:
In a medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Turn the heat down to just below a simmer and add the vinegar and salt. Crack an egg into a small bowl to check that the yolk isn’t broken. Slowly stir the water in one direction to create a whirlpool effect. Once the whirlpool has slowed down a little, carefully slide the egg into the water against the side of the pan, following the current of the water as you pour the egg in, so that the white envelops the yolk. Crack another egg into the small bowl and add to the water in the same manner. Poach the eggs for 2 to 2 ½ minutes, until the whites are set and the yolks are runny. Carefully, remove with a slotted spoon to a plate to drain. Cupping the eggs in your hand, tip the plate to pour off the excess water.
Place the eggs centered over the asparagus. Poach the other 2 eggs in the same manner. (If you want to prepare the eggs ahead of time, slip the poached eggs into a bowl of ice water, and just before assembling the sandwiches, return them to the simmering water for 10- 20 seconds to warm.)
Drape a slice of Fontina cheese over each egg, and heat the sandwiches under the broiler for a minute or so, just until the cheese is melted.
Remove the sandwiches from the oven, and rumple a slice of prosciutto over each end of the asparagus, allowing the ends to peek out. Drizzle a little olive oil over, sprinkle with pepper, and place a thyme sprig on each sandwich.

In these challenging times…

The Staff Canteen team are taking a different approach to keeping our website independent and delivering content free from commercial influence. Our Editorial team have a critical role to play in informing and supporting our audience in a balanced way. We would never put up a paywall – The Staff Canteen is open to all and we want to keep bringing you the content you want; more from younger chefs, more on mental health, more tips and industry knowledge, more recipes and more videos. We need your support right now, more than ever, to keep The Staff Canteen active. Without your financial contributions this would not be possible.

Over the last 16 years, The Staff Canteen has built what has become the go-to platform for chefs and hospitality professionals. As members and visitors, your daily support has made The Staff Canteen what it is today. Our features and videos from the world’s biggest name chefs are something we are proud of. We have over 560,000 followers across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and other social channels, each connecting with chefs across the world. Our editorial and social media team are creating and delivering engaging content every day, to support you and the whole sector - we want to do more for you.

A single coffee is more than £2, a beer is £4.50 and a large glass of wine can be £6 or more.

Support The Staff Canteen from as little as £1 today. Thank you.