This great and easy sandwich could serve you well for breakfast, lunch, or a picnic. Basically, it is scrambled eggs with onions and asparagus. I prefer thin asparagus for this dish, since I recall making it with wild asparagus that I would go and forage every spring with my grandmother. Here in the States, asparagus is farmed abundantly. Wild asparagus is more bitter than the farmed variety, but I love any fresh asparagus. I sometimes use scallions instead of onions, including two-thirds of the green part of the scallion stalks as well.

　　

Ingredients

makes 2 hero sandwiches, or 4 sandwiches on rolls

　　3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

　　1 medium onion, thinly sliced

　　1/2 bunch asparagus, stems peeled and cut into 2-inch lengths

　　1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

　　4 large eggs

　　4 ounces mild provola, shredded

　　Two 6-inch lengths semolina bread, or 4 crusty rolls, lightly toasted

　　

Step 1

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and add the onion, asparagus, and 1/4 cup water. Season with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, cover, and let simmer until the asparagus is tender, about 10 minutes, until the water has evaporated.

　　

Step 2

Beat eggs with the remaining salt. Pour the eggs into the skillet, and cook, stirring, until just beginning to set but still wet, about 1 minute. Sprinkle with the grated provola, then cover and cook until cheese melts, about 1 minute more. Uncover, stir to mix in the cheese, and serve on the toasted bread or rolls.

　　Reprinted with permission from Lidia's Italy in America by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali. Copyright © 2011 by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali. Excerpted by permission of Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Buy the full book from Amazon or Bookshop.