5 Ingredients, an Urban Family series where we sit down with a Shanghai-based chef and ask for a family-friendly meal using 5 Ingredients easily found in Shanghai; let us help you start the week with a simple five-step recipe!
This week we talked to Markus Paul, Corporate Chef at Paulaner Bräuhaus Shanghai, a chain of restaurants focusing on hearty Bavarian and international cuisine and micro-brewed beer. Chef Markus comes from a German family of butchers and joined the family business before studying to become a chef. He learned his profession in the famous Hotel Traube Tonbach in the black forest. During his training, he was honored to learn from 3 Michelin-star chef Harald Wohlfahrt. Before moving to China, his career took him to Switzerland, South Africa, South America, USA, Seychelles, and Israel.
Chef Markus is the mastermind behind the culinary creations of all Paulaner Bräuhaus Shanghai restaurants and he has lived in Shanghai with his teenage son since 2005.
Can you tell me about the dish you are helping us prepare this week?
As a chef and a father, I know how important it is to prepare a dish that is both healthy, and easy to make at home. I am also a big fan of seasonal vegetables. Local produce is always the best option. This baked white asparagus prosciutto ‘cotto roll’ with Edamer cheese is one of my favorite asparagus dishes.
What five ingredients do we need?
450 grams white asparagus
100 grams prosciutto cotto (cooked ham)
80 grams Edamer cheese
50 grams cream
5 grams parsley, coarsely chopped
What is the five-step recipe?
Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius
1. Poach the peeled asparagus in water with lemon, sugar, salt and a small amount of milk.
2. Roll four to five asparagus sticks with the cooked ham to one roll.
3. Place the rolls into an oven-proof chinaware dish (or small oven tray) with a small amount of seasoned cream.
4. Lay the cheese on top and bake at 180 degrees Celsius for up to 10 minutes, until the cheese is golden brown.
5. Sprinkle the parsley on top, and the dish is ready to serve.
What’s your advice on your dish of the week?
Here in China, the main season of asparagus is April-May, don’t miss it! Fresh asparagus is a very delicious vegetable with numerous health benefits such as aiding gallbladder diseases, liver problems, diabetes and digestion. The parsley I used in my recipe is also healthy because of its minerals and vitamins and the cooked ham and cheese complete the taste.
Tell us something that’s happening with your business at the moment that our Urban Family community can enjoy.
If you don’t have time to cook but want to enjoy the short asparagus season, we’ve got you covered. All our Paulaner branches here in Shanghai are serving four typical German fresh asparagus dishes during May. Whether you come for a family day to our beer garden with a children’s playground at Paulaner @ Expo or lunch with friends at Paulaner @ Xintiandi and Paulaner @ Raffles City Changning, or a romantic dinner with Huangpu river view at Paulaner @ Binjiang, asparagus is always a good idea!
Talking about seasons and good ideas – our restaurant Paulaner @ Expo is launching the BBQ season from May 6 with delicious prime beef on the bone. Enjoy our BBQ feast the first and last Sunday of each month, with changing dishes every month, such as suckling pig in June and a whole lamb in July. Sit back and relax during our summer BBQ at our family and dog-friendly beer garden, while children play at the colorful playground.
See listing for all Paulaner venues, here.
For more 5 Ingredients recipes, click here.
