Roasting asparagus in the oven and finishing with olive oil and shaved parmesan is a perfect spring side dish.
Many years ago when I was working at a television station in Toronto I ate the same thing in the cafeteria for lunch every single day. This was not unlike what I did in highschool when I ate french fries and gravy every single day for lunch, which other than throwing up a well formed ball of grease at the end of 4 years, had no ill effects on me.
By the time I hit my working years I was a little more grown up in my tastes. What I ate every day for lunch was Veeshna's (she was the cook in the cafeteria) Asparagus Soup. I loved it so much I found just having one meal a day of it wasn't enough so I asked her for the recipe so I could make it for myself for dinner. Which I did. For weeks on end. Until one day I looked at the bowl of Asparagus Soup and thought I was going to throw up much more than a ball of grease.
It was 4 years until I could eat anything asparagus again. I've learned to control myself a little more. I still only make asparagus soup occasionally but once asparagus season rolls around I'm eating roasted asparagus at least a couple of times a week.
I told you earlier this week about how there are female and male asparagus spears. The thick ones are male and the thinner ones are female. Unless the thin ones are male and the thick ones are female. There's some dispute about that. It doesn't matter though. All you need to know is whether you like thick or thin spears. People used to say the thicker spears were tough, but that's not the case. I happen to like the thick ones.
If your spears are tough it's more likely that you haven't cut enough of the stem off of the bottom.
To prepare asparagus for roasting (in a 400 degree oven) just bend the asparagus spears with your fingers near the bottom.
They'll naturally break at the point where the tender meets the tough. Tender meets the tough. I think Heart recorded that in the late 70's.
If you're weird about all your asparagus spears being the exact same length then don't bother snapping them, just cut 2 or 3 inches off the bottoms. Ya weirdo.
Drizzle your asparagus with some olive oil and toss them around to get all the spears coated. Do NOT salt and pepper prior to cooking. When you're roasting vegetables you're better to salt and pepper at the end because salt will draw moisture out of the vegetable as you're roasting and you don't want the water out, you want it in.
Roast the asparagus for AROUND 10 minutes depending on the thickness of the spears. For thinner spears check them at 5 minutes, for thicker spears check them at 10 minutes. It also depends on how you like your asparagus cooked. Technically you're supposed to allow them to have a bit of bite to them. Some crunch. But some people don't like that. Some people like their vegetables to be complete mush, which is fine. Is it how a chef thinks you should eat asparagus? Nope. But since it's you eating the asparagus you're in control and you can cook them however you like them.
I for instance like my scrambled eggs decidedly overcooked. That's how I like them. I don't care that it's "wrong". Liking canned peas is "wrong" too, but I like those as well.
As soon as you take the asparagus out of the oven sprinkle it generously with salt and pepper and then shave parmesan cheese over it. Do it right away so the heat from the asparagus will help melt the cheese a bit. You can also stick the asparagus all cheesed up under the oven broiler to get it a bit crusty and bubbly. In fact. Do that. Always do that. Always broil it for a minute afterwards. That is now an order.
The roasting changes the flavour of asparagus, just like it changes the flavour of any vegetable. Roasting caramelizes the sugars in the vegetable and brings out a slight sweetness in everything along with giving them a roasty, charred taste.
Roasted Asparagus with Shaved Parmesan
Ingredients
- Asparagus
- Olive OIl
- Salt large sea salt flakes if you have them
- Pepper
- Parmesan Cheese shaved
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F
- Wash asparagus and snap off the tough bottoms.
- Toss in olive oil and lay out on baking sheet.
- Roast for 5-10 minutes depending on the thickness of the spears and how well cooked you like your asparagus.
- Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle generously with salt, pepper and shaved Parmesan cheese.
- Throw them under the broiler for a few minutes if desired. And trust me. You desire.
More STUFF tip:
If you have leftover roasted asparagus heating it up tends to overcook it no matter how hard you try not to. So throw it in a pot with just enough chicken stock to cover it, simmer it, throw it in a blender, and you have asparagus soup. Serve with shaved parmesan and a few large croutons on top.
Just don't eat the soup every day for lunch. And dinner. Ditto for the fries and gravy.
Yeah, you got me there. I am eating it on whole wheat, and you're right, when I was young we always had it on white bread, you know, the kind that you could break off pieces and make little bread balls. so, I guess I should try it that way. We also had it fried, that was really good. But in my efforts to eat "healthy" I have refrained from frying. Guess I'm gonna have to cheat a little if I want the real stuff. Moderation, that's the key there. I also have tried spiced ham and olive loaf. Also like Dutch loaf, sliced ever so thin with a nice slice of Vidalia onion and (this will probably sound strange) some Limburger cheese spread, not the brick. Here in the states, Kraft Foods used to make a Limburger cheese spread called "Mohawk Valley" I think. Maybe called "Moose Brand" It was very creamy and didn't have the "bite" of the brick but all the taste. They don't make it any more and I have never found any spread that compares to it. Kinda blew my eating "healthy" plan there.
Wait.. You have left-over asparagus? I have a 12yo dear son who would like to visit. We do the same to fresh green beans too, but on the grill since it's already too darned hot to heat up the kitchen. My thermometer showed 97 degree F yesterday afternoon. Tonight's menu, grilled green beans, cold ham, Caprese salad and fresh french bread (it's a European tour)
Haha! Good. That's a relief.
Ok, it's Monday and no post. I'm not complaining, you know it's just that I worry.
Ever since your roasted broccoli post I am a roasted veggie convert and do this to all my veggies. Zucchini and yellow summer squash are wonderful this way, too.
Essie "Lady like" is one of my go to nail colors. I like nudes because there is no clean up around the nail required. Any stray polish comes off in the next shower but isn't noticeable enough to bother with removing.
And it's not fair that you Canadians have Dollarama which blows our US dollar stores away AND Joe Fresh in your grocery stores. We are limited to very limited offerings of Joe Fresh items at JCPenney. : /
OK, that last bit was complaining.
LOL. Post is up now, there was just a glitch with scheduling. And me falling asleep before midnight for the first time in 3 decades (so I didn't check that the post was up and running) ~ karen!
What kind of pan is that, Karen? It looks like an interesting metal, or reeeeally well seasoned...
Hi Liz. It's a really well seasoned Pampered Chef stoneware pan. ~ karen!
baloney wrapped around dill pickles … white bread and butter and baloney
question about asparagus pee … going to google frog pyjamas
i like it when one asparagus goes one way and the next one goes the other way and the next one goes the other way and …
Thank you for the great asparagus tips ;) We had some lovely fresh asparagus and your recipe was perfect. Yummy!
Great post! Love asparagus. Usually make it like you do. My mom used to
just roast the tips. Guess didn't like the possibility or getting tough stems. One of your readers, Sandra I believe, mentioned having a baloney sandwich everyday when a kid. I did too. Always packed one for lunch for school. Couldn't get enough baloney. Is it me or does baloney taste different now? Did the baloney people forget the recipe? I don't like it as well, now. I use to love it. Oh well, that was in the 60s, so maybe it's changed. Thanks again for the great post.
Maybe you're doing something stupid like eating it on whole wheat/brain bread Mike. Bologny (bologna) needs white bread. The kind that's so white it sticks to the roof of your mouth when you eat it. ~ karen!
my favorite vegetable is a huge bowl of spinach, in a Pyrex bowl that has a lid. I put 1/2 stick of butter and a shockingly large chunk of gorgonzola cheese in the bottom of the bowl and then pack to the top with spinach. I keep pushing it down till it won't hold any more. Cooked it doesn't amount to more than 3 to 5 servings, I microwave with the lid on for 5 minutes, remove and stir and if it still seems tough, Microwave for 2 or 3 minutes more. I like this because it is yummy, and healthy. Course are butter and cheese ever completely healthy?
I roast a lot of veggies like this. My sister-in-law served roasted asparagus & I was in love. I have since roasted fresh green beans - broccoli (though my husband prefers this steamed in the microwave) - cauliflower - Brussels sprouts - peppers & mushrooms. Sometimes I mix a few of these together & roast them like that. Oh - & I roast potato & sweet potato wedges. I will now try adding the shaved parm cheese. Yummy...
you have to try this - cut some grape tomatoes in half and sauté with olive oil and the cooked asparagus briefly. You could probably also add them before you broil, if you'd prefer. Fabulous.
Your asparagus looks so good..now I need a recipe for roasted red beets..
I love when you post recipes - every one I have tried has been awesome. This is so simple and looks amazing. I can't wait to try it.
I *love* roasted asparagus, but I've never had it with parm - I'm excited to give it a try (I rarely need convincing to put cheese on things). I usually make a bit extra to take to work the next day for lunch - chopped up roasted asparagus and red peppers with brie and toasted slivered almonds in a wrap. 'tis yummy
my asparagus don't all have to be the same length, but they DO need to have the tips all facing the same direction when roasting. OMG I can't un-see that and I'm ruined all day. Better get into my box of sunset blush wine and park my butt on the couch for a spell.
I saw that too Ben...Shocking!!..lol..
The recipe looks great--thanks for sharing. I also like my scrambled eggs "over" cooked (or cooked just right, as far as I'm concerned). There's a weird amount of judgment out there about how people eat. Just enjoy your food and don't stress (Karen says so) :)
Two posts on asparagus, and not a single mention of the single greatest feature of this vegetable? Canned peas, but no asparagus pee? It even has literary cred, forming the basis of a great love story in Tom Robbins' Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas.
I can't think of a vegetable which inspires more discussion. Other than Brussels sprouts, which is a disappointingly binary like-em-or-not conversation. Finally, for the record, it's apparently not bad table manners to eat asparagus with your fingers in polite company. Which I most definitely am not.
I'm all over roasted vegetables! First time I roasted brussel sprouts and radishes (not together, since different harvest seasons) I realized, damn! all veggies are better this way! It's my go-to for new vegetables from the CSA that I previously hated.
My son always makes this for me when he visits and it is beyond delicious!
I had a baloney sandwich (no butter, mustard on both sides) every day for lunch when I was a kid. Still love them, but don't have them often anymore.
I LOVEEEEE those! ~ karen