Buttered ham, asparagus & parsley

For ➋
75 g unsalted butter
2 x 150 g pieces of ham, cut into 2½ cm thick slices
1 bunch asparagus (about 8-10 spears), woody ends trimmed & peeled
2 tbs chopped fresh parsley
2 tbs sunflower oil
2 free-range eggs
salt & pepper
[3 small Maris Piper potatoes, cut into very thin strips
vegetable oil for deep fat frying]

Add 20-30 cl water to a pan with the butter. Bring up to the boil, drop in the ham and warm through. Once the volume of liquid has reduced by half and has started to emulsify, add the asparagus and carefully remove the ham. Cook the asparagus for 1 m in the emulsified liquor.
Add the chopped parsley at the end. Keep warm.
Heat the oil in a deep fat fryer to 180°C, or heat the oil in a heavy-based pan until a small piece of bread sizzles and goes brown when dropped into the oil.
Cook the potato strips in boiling water until soft. Drain and dry the potatoes. Put the chips into the deep fat fryer and cook until crisp.
Meanwhile, heat a small frying pan and add the oil. Once hot, add the eggs and fry to your liking.

To serve, put the warm ham onto each of 2 serving plates, and pile the asparagus next the ham. Taste the ham cooking sauce and season with salt and pepper as necessary. Spoon the sauce over the ham and asparagus and top with a fried egg and a small pile of chips.