Grilling is a quick and healthy way to cook asparagus. This delicious green vegetable is a great source of several vitamins, minerals and fiber and is also low in cholesterol. To get your grilled asparagus ready for your next meal, here's how.
Ingredients
- 1 bunch fresh asparagus (or as much as you need)
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- Minced garlic and/or parmesan cheese (if desired)
- Lemon juice or balsamic salad dressing (which contains balsamic vinegar) (if desired).
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparing the Asparagus
Step 1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C)
While the oven is heating, you can prepare the asparagus.
Step 2. Wash the asparagus
You may want to spare the thinnest stalks of asparagus for now and save them for another recipe. The thinner the asparagus stalks, the mushy the asparagus will be when roasted. Thick stems are best for cooking with this grilling method.
Step 3. Cut the asparagus to remove the tough part at the base of the stem
You can cut 1 or 2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long with a knife or pick with your fingers. When you pick the root, the tough, stiff part is cut off, leaving only the soft part of the asparagus stem.
Some people like to peel asparagus stalks, but others don't feel the need to do it. If you want to peel it, then peel it
Step 4. Dry the asparagus if necessary
You don't want the asparagus to be steamed (due to the presence of water) instead of roasting! Additional water is not required in the baking process because baking uses dry heat. Pat the asparagus with a paper towel dry or roll it up in a clean cloth.
Method 2 of 3: Roasting Asparagus
Step 1. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil
If you don't have a baking sheet, you can also use a glass or ceramic (oven-resistant) baking dish. If you're using a baking dish, there's no need to worry about using aluminum foil.
Aluminum foil saves you the hassle of cleaning the pan and allows you to fully concentrate on the delicious food in front of you. Two advantages at once
Step 2. Roll the asparagus sticks in olive oil to coat them
Start by using 1 -2 tbsp (15 - 30 ml) extra virgin olive oil. If that's not enough, add more until each asparagus stick is lightly coated with oil.
Do this directly on the baking sheet! No need to dirty other containers. When you sprinkle the olive oil, simply roll the asparagus with a fork. Make sure the oil is evenly distributed
Step 3. Arrange the asparagus stalks on the baking sheet in a single layer, not stacking
You need to bake it as evenly as possible. If they are stacked on top of each other, the asparagus will cook at different speeds, making it difficult for you to control the exact cooking time.
Step 4. Sprinkle the asparagus with salt and pepper, and other seasonings for added flavor
It's even better if you have kosher salt (coarse salt) and ground black pepper. The fresher your seasoning, the more the flavor will come out.
Minced garlic can also be added to any grilled asparagus dish. If you like the taste of garlic, add a few cloves of finely chopped garlic
Step 5. Place the asparagus-filled baking sheet in the preheated oven
Bake the asparagus for 8 to 10 minutes. If you are using thick stalks or large amounts of asparagus, you may need more time than this. Keep a close eye on your asparagus and do a taste test after about 10 minutes.
- It's best to place a baking sheet filled with asparagus on the center rack of the oven. Heat is most evenly distributed in the center of the oven.
- Halfway through baking, flip the asparagus with a fork or by shaking the pan (carefully hot).
- Some recipes suggest baking for up to 25 minutes in the oven. It all depends on the size of the stalks and the amount of asparagus you have.
Method 3 of 3: Serving Roasted Asparagus
Step 1. Remove the asparagus from the oven
Asparagus is ripe when the stems are pliable, but not completely tender. Place the roasted asparagus on a serving plate.
Step 2. Add garnishes
Sprinkle grilled asparagus with finely grated Parmesan cheese or toss with lemon juice if desired. Place lemon wedges on top for serving, if available.
Another delicious alternative is balsamic salad dressing. If you haven't tried it yet, give it a try. This sauce gives a subtle or subtle sour taste
Step 3. Serve the roasted asparagus warm or at room temperature
The good thing about this vegetable is that asparagus is delicious cold too! Store leftover asparagus for tomorrow in the refrigerator and eat it straight out of the fridge.
Store asparagus in an airtight container. Roasted asparagus will last for a day or two. You can also combine it with other ingredients or recipes, asparagus goes well with a number of flavors
Tips
- Grilled asparagus can also be served with a dip, such as hollandaise.
- Leftover asparagus can be served chopped up and added to salads.
- If you roast the asparagus until it's not too soft, you can serve it as a warm appetizer with a thick, creamy dipping sauce or dab.
