Parmesan Asparagus with Poached Eggs

TOTAL TIME: 30 MIN
SERVINGS: 4

FAST
VEGETARIAN

This simple, elegant recipe combines three foods that Gwyneth Paltrow adores: fresh spring asparagus, tons of Parmesan and poached eggs. It will appear on a future version of the GOOP iPhone/iPad app, a compilation of articles and video curated by Paltrow and based on her comprehensive website, goop.com.

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1 pound thick asparagus, trimmed
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
4 large eggs
Toast, for serving

Preheat the broiler. Blanch the asparagus in a large, deep skillet of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the asparagus to a paper towel–lined plate and pat dry; reserve the liquid in the skillet. Arrange the asparagus in 4 individual shallow baking dishes. Brush with the butter and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the cheese and broil 6 inches from the heat until golden, about 1 minute.
Add the vinegar to the asparagus blanching liquid and return to a simmer. Crack the eggs into the simmering water, leaving plenty of space between them, and poach until the whites are set but the yolks are runny, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, carefully remove each egg from the water, blot thoroughly dry with a paper towel and set on the asparagus. Serve with toast.