BURRATA WITH ASPARAGUS, BROWN BUTTER, GUANCIALE, AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 325°F.
• Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and place them in the oven to toast for 12 to 15 minutes, until they are golden brown and fragrant, shaking the pan occasionally so the nuts brown evenly. Remove the almonds from the oven and set them aside to cool to room temperature. Drizzle the almonds with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, sprinkle them with sea salt, and toss to coat them with the seasonings. Slice the almonds in half lengthwise.
• After you put the almonds in the oven, lay the guanciale slices on a baking sheet and put it in the oven with the almonds until the guanciale is cooked through but not crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the guanciale from the oven, transfer it to paper towels to drain, and cut each piece of guanciale in half on the diagonal.
• Increase the oven temperature to 450°F.
• Snap off the asparagus stems at the natural break and discard the stems. Put the asparagus spears on a baking sheet. Drizzle them with the remaining olive oil and sprinkle them with the kosher salt. Spread the asparagus out in a single layer and roast them in the oven until they start to brown but are still al dente, about 10 minutes. Remove the asparagus from the oven and set aside to cool to room temperature.
• Place the butter in a medium saucepan (preferably stainless steel). Cook the butter over medium-high heat without stirring, but swirling the pan occasionally to brown the butter evenly, for 3 to 5 minutes, until the bubbles subside and the butter is dark brown with a nutty, toasty smell. (As you cook it, the butter will foam up and begin to brown, then the milk solids will drop to the bottom and the foam will subside. At this point the butter is done. Turn off the heat immediately, as the line between brown butter and burnt butter is a fine one.)
• To serve, lay five to seven asparagus spears side by side on each of four plates (preferably oval or rectangular), pulling the tips of some of the spears so they aren't lined up evenly. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the brown butter along the length of each serving of asparagus spears to coat them with the butter. Cut the burrata into four equal segments and lay one segment on top of each serving of asparagus. Use the back of the tablespoon to create a small crater in each segment of burrata and spoon 1 tablespoon of the brown butter into each crater. Drop 1 tablespoon of bread crumbs in clumps, avoiding the butter (clumping them keeps them from getting soggy), over each serving of burrata and asparagus. Sprinkle the almonds over and around the asparagus and burrata, and lay two pieces of guanciale overlapping each other on top of each serving.
• Suggested Wine Pairing
• Petite Arvine (Valle d'Aosta)