What’s not to love about asparagus? It’s gorgeous, it’s flavorful and the ease of cooking it makes it a go-to in our house. There are many ways to prepare this beautiful green, but I gravitate towards Roasted Asparagus because of one of Mike’s and my favorite chefs, Jamie Oliver.

Jamie recommends roasting the asparagus without any seasoning. Mike and I used to always add the seasoning first, so this was a new technique to us. We gave his suggestion a try and haven’t gone back since.

Adding the seasoning after roasting it allows the natural flavors of the asparagus to shine through. There’s almost a nuttiness to the taste. It’s delicious and works well as a side with anything you’re making for dinner.

Print

ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Ingredients

• 1 bunch of green asparagus
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• Juice of 1/2 lemon, to taste
• Salt & pepper, to taste
• Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Wash asparagus and break off the ends. Asparagus lets you know where to break it.
3. Drizzle the baking sheet with olive oil.
4. Place asparagus on the baking sheet without any seasoning. Roasting asparagus without seasoning actually brings out a really nice nutty flavor.
5. Roast asparagus for about 10-15 minutes, using a fork to test the crispness.
6. Remove asparagus from oven and drizzle with olive oil.
7. Season with salt, pepper, lemon and grated Parmesan.

All images © Regan Baroni 2014.