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Roasting vegetables is a good way to avoid the splatter and mess from sauteing or steaming! Plus when you have asparagus in the oven you can bake it with Salmon or cheesy Bacon and Mushroom Chicken and call it dinner!
Baked Asparagus Recipe:
This recipe is extremely popular within our family circle. My cousin Pavel introduced us to this delicious side when he served this alongside grilled salmon! It was perfectly tender, not too mushy, vibrant green, and not at all bitter!
His secret is to trim and soak the ends in sugar water. This helps the asparagus plant to soften when cooking and remedies moisture and sweetness back into the asparagus (removes any bitterness)!
How To Cook Asparagus
The ingredient list is so simple yet it makes for a highly customizable dish that is full of flavor and healthy! I season it with garlic salt, a high-quality extra virgin olive oil, and black pepper.
- Trim Asparagus- line up all the stalks on a cutting board and cut off the thick ends using a sharp chef’s knife. I like to take off about an inch or so.
- Soak asparagus ends in sugar water for 10 minutes. I don’t rinse them off before seasoning.
- Arrange asparagus in a single layer over an 18x13 sheet pan. I like to briefly pat the stalks with paper towels so they don’t get too mushy from the excess water when cooking.
- Season asparagus with the spices and oil. I like to sprinkle with the seasonings then drizzle with olive oil and toss together.
- Bake asparagus in a preheated 400°F oven for 15 minutes. Don’t overbake, it will get duller in color and turn mushy.
Alyona’s Tip: To remove the woody ends, grab a stalk of asparagus at the end and bend until it snaps. It should naturally snap where it starts to get tough.
What To Serve With Roasted Asparagus:
We love to eat this roasted asparagus recipe with Cured or Baked Salmon! There’s something about seafood that tastes so fresh and light with asparagus. However, you can serve this side dish alongside so many entrees including a simple Hollandaise Sauce. Here are a few ideas.
- Grilled Chicken Thighs and pasta!
- Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy and Mashed Potatoes
- Moms Pork Meatballs (Kotlety)
- Ranch Baked Fish
- Shrimp Alfredo
Creative Ways To Use Up Leftovers:
You can store leftover roasted asparagus in an airtight container for up to 3 days. If you don’t feel like eating them reheated plain, then here are ideas to use them up!
- Stir into soups or casseroles.
- Top over a fresh salad.
- Stuff in chicken breasts or butterflied meat.
- Crisp up in an air-fryer and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and lemon wedges to jass them up.
Q&A
How Long To Bake Asparagus?
Cooking asparagus in the oven couldn’t be easier! It’s all done in one pan and I get perfect results after roasting! Asparagus is done in the oven when roasted for 15 minutes at 400°F or when they turn bright green. Make sure you arrange them in a single layer so they properly steam and cook tender.
Tips for Oven-Baked Asparagus:
- Cut off the woody ends with a knife instead of snapping them off. I find that I remove too many stalk ends when I snap them off. Slice a good inch off the ends to be safe so that you don’t remove too much.
- Cook with firm asparagus that has closed and compact tips. Avoid buying stalks that look limp or wilted.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan, they won’t bake evenly.
- Meatier stalks are perfect for roasting or grilling! Skinnier ones work great for sauteeing asparagus or if you prefer crispy ones when baking.
- For a loaded fresh garlic taste add 5-8 cloves of freshly minced garlic in the last 5 minutes of baking. You can omit the garlic salt and use sea salt.
- Change up the flavors by drizzling some lemon juice, infused oils, or balsamic vinegar after roasting. Feel free to season it up with beef bouillon powder, onion powder, or grated parmesan cheese.
More Side Dishes To Try:
This recipe with asparagus is a must try but here are vegetables and sides to make!
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Oven Roasted Asparagus
Equipment
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 pounds asparagus , (washed and ends trimmed)
- 3/4 tsp garlic salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
Marinade for Soaking Ends:
- 2 cups water
- 3 Tbsp organic cane sugar
Instructions
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a large mixing bowl dissolve the sugar in water and soak the asparagus ends for 10 minutes.
- Remove the asparagus from the sugar water and pat dry. Arrange in a single layer over a sheet pan and toss in olive oil, garlic salt, and pepper.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until tender. Mine took 15 minutes. They should be bright green. Serve warm.
Nutrition (per serving)
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