Perfect Roasted Asparagus
Roasted asparagus is a lovely and light side dish that goes with so many different things. Steak, chicken, seafood. It’s so versatile and takes just a couple minutes to get into the oven.
This is one of those go-to side dishes that pairs well with tons of different entrées. I make this pretty often. I meal plan every week and when I’m trying to think of side dishes, sometimes I just draw a blank. This is one of those standard things I make when I just don’t feel creative.
I used to grow asparagus in my garden, but when I had two babies in two years, I didn’t have time for much gardening. If you grow asparagus, you know how out of control it can get. It grows super tall and ferns out on top so you end up with quite a forrest. The cicadas loved it every summer, but I didn’t love having to chop it down every time I let it get too high.
When we had our patio re-poured last year, we extended it so my garden had to get torn up. Bye bye, asparagus. I won’t be planting it again any time soon. It just grows too fast for me to keep up with. I do still love eating asparagus so for now, I’ll stick to buying it.
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How to Buy Asparagus
Buying asparagus is pretty easy if you know what to look for. Younger asparagus plants put out stalks that are rather thin. Those tend to be more tender than older plants that put out really thick stalks.
The really skinny and really thick ones can both be a bit woody though, so I try to get asparagus somewhere in the middle.
Preparing the Asparagus
Again, this is about as easy as it gets. Rinse the asparagus under some cool water and lay it out on a paper towel. Blot it dry. Cut about 1-2 inches off the bottom. That’s the toughest part of the asparagus. I’m sure everyone has their own opinion on how much to cut off, or if you even need to. I just trim mine to fit in the pan.
Lay the asparagus in an even layer in a cast iron skillet or baking dish. Drizzle with some olive oil and sprinkle liberally with sea salt. Roast it for about 12-15 minutes at 425° F. The time will vary depending on the thickness of the asparagus.
Serving Suggestions for Roasted Asparagus
Chicken or Fish
Roasted asparagus is the perfect compliment to a light entrée like baked chicken or pan-seared fish.
Steak
Steak and baked or mashed potatoes are common fare in this house. As yummy as those things are, I like to have something green to balance the heaviness and round out the meal. Sometimes I feel like a fresh salad and other times, this roasted asparagus is just right.
Toppings
Sprinkle a little grated parmesan or some slivered almonds on top to make it look extra fancy, add some flavor or a little crunch.
Perfect Roasted Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 bunch asparagus spears
- 2 tbsp ollive oil
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425° F.
- Rinse and trim asparagus. Lay out on a paper towel and blot dry.
- Lay asparagus in an even layer in a cast iron skillet or baking dish.
- Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
- Roast in the oven for 12-15 minutes until desired tenderness.
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