Cooking Asparagus In The Oven

It's asparagus season, and I can't get enough of it. Roasting asparagus brings out its best. The tips get a little crispy in the oven, which I love, and the flavor is more concentrated than it would be if you steamed or sautéed it.

Roasted asparagus is the perfect springtime side dish, whether for brunch or dinner. As a bonus, it's simple to throw together while your main dish cooks on the stove.

For these photos, I decked out my asparagus with lemon, mint, red pepper flakes and the lightest shaving of Parmesan.

You can keep your roasted asparagus as simple as you'd like. I included the basic recipe below, plus ideas for changing up the seasonings!

How to Store Asparagus

Pro tip: Place your asparagus in a heavy-bottomed jar or drinking glass when you get home, and add a couple inches of water. You can place a plastic bag over the top to retain maximum freshness.

Then, store the asparagus like this in your refrigerator. It will stay fresh for several days longer this way!

How to Prep Asparagus

The ends of asparagus can be unpleasantly tough and woody. To remove those parts, sharply bend the asparagus near the base.

The asparagus will snap in the right place. This would be a fun dinnertime project for kids, I think.

How to Roast Asparagus

Roasting asparagus is super easy and quick! Simply toss your prepared asparagus with a light drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. I like to do this on a large, rimmed baking sheet (affiliate link) lined with parchment paper for easy clean-up.

Bake until the asparagus is easily pierced through by a fork, which will vary depending on the thickness of your asparagus. Pencil-thin asparagus, like the kind shown here, will be done in as little as 10 minutes. Thicker asparagus will need between 15 to 20 minutes. You'll find all of these details in the recipe below.

How to Season Asparagus

Here are some ideas for flavors that will complement your roasted asparagus. Keep it simple and choose just one or two. Or go all-out like I did, and use all four of the first ideas.

• Lemon zest and/or lemon wedges
• Sprinkle of finely grated Parmesan cheese
• Small handful of fresh mint or parsley, finely chopped
• Light sprinkle of red pepper flakes
• Pat or two of butter
• Light drizzle of balsamic reduction or thick balsamic vinegar
• Toasted sliced almonds

Watch How to Roast Asparagus

Extra asparagus? Here are some recipes that will use it up:

• Baked Asparagus Frittata
• Spring Pea and Asparagus Risotto
• Ribboned Asparagus and Quinoa Salad
• Spring Pea and Asparagus Pasta

Looking more simple roasted side dishes? Try these:

• Perfect Roasted Broccoli
• Perfect Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Perfect Roasted Carrots
• Roasted Cauliflower (Four Ways!)

Please let me know how your roasted asparagus turns out in the comments! I'm really looking forward to hearing how you serve it.

Print

Perfect Roasted Asparagus

• Author:
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 2 to 4 servings 1x
• Category: Side Dish
• Method: Roasted
• Cuisine: Italian

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

4.7 from 40 reviews

Learn how to make perfectly roasted asparagus here! This roasted asparagus recipe is a fantastic springtime side dish that everyone will love. You can season it however you'd like. You'll find my seasoning suggestions below. Recipe yields 2 large or 4 modest side servings.

Scale

Ingredients

Basic roasted asparagus

• 1 large bunch (about 1 pound) fresh asparagus
• 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil
• Salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

My seasonings (use one or all, like I did)

• Zest and juice of ½ medium lemon, preferably organic
• Lemon wedges, from the remaining ½ lemon
• Sprinkle of finely grated Parmesan cheese
• Small handful of fresh mint or parsley, finely chopped
• Light sprinkle of red pepper flakes

Other options

• Pat or two of butter
• Light drizzle of balsamic reduction or thick balsamic vinegar
• Toasted sliced almonds

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus (if you sharply bend the asparagus near the base, it will snap in the right place). Discard the ends.
2. Place the asparagus on the sheet and drizzle with 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil, just enough to lightly coat the asparagus. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the asparagus, and toss until the spears are lightly coated in oil. Arrange the spears in a single layer on the pan.
3. Bake just until the base of the asparagus is easily pierced through by a fork. Very thin asparagus, like the kind shown here, will take as little as 9 to 12 minutes, whereas thicker asparagus will need 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Transfer the roasted asparagus to a serving platter and season however you'd like. You could keep it simple with a squeeze of lemon juice, or a sprinkle of Parmesan, or add a pat of butter or drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
5. Roasted asparagus is best served when it's fresh out of the oven, but it will keep at room temperature for up to 1 hour or up to 4 days in the refrigerator (gently reheat before serving).

Notes

Make it dairy free/vegan: Don't add Parmesan or butter.
Make it nut free: Don't add almonds.

▸ Nutrition Information

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.

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Cooking Asparagus In The Oven

Source: https://cookieandkate.com/perfect-roasted-asparagus-recipe/

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