It's so easy to make this Garlic Roasted Asparagus recipe, you'll wonder why you ever made it any other way. This is not the asparagus from your childhood! Tender, yet with a bit of a crispy crunch, a delicious side dish for dinner!
What does Asparagus taste like?
It's always hard to describe a taste of something, especially when it's so unique. Some people say it's quite earthy in flavor. Others say it tastes similar to broccoli, others say it's like beans. I think its a variation of all those things, especially the earth bit. I think any negative ideas about the flavor of asparagus comes from boiled asparagus which is how some people prepared it in the 1980's.
Where is Asparagus From?
According to Wikipedia, Asparagus is a vegetable that has been enjoyed since the Egyptian times, 3000 BC. They Egyptians used it as a medicine for its diuretic properties. The Egyptians even dried it for use in the winter. Dried asparagus sounds horrible to me. I'm glad we can buy it fresh year round. Some people think Asparagus is an aphrodisiac. It's native to Europe, but it grown and imported worldwide. China is the world largest exporter of Asparagus, and USA the biggest importer of it.
Roast Garlic Asparagus in the Oven
This recipe is so easy to make, you only need 4 ingredients!
- Asparagus
- Garlic Cloves
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Salt
The roasting time will depend on the thickness of your asparagus spears. Try to choose asparagus spears that are the same thickness to ensure they cook evenly. You need to trim the woody ends off the asparagus, save them and throw them into your next homemade soup stock.
Thinly slice 2 cloves of garlic, and toss it all together while drizzling with olive oil. Spread it on a baking sheet in a single layer, and bake for about 10 minutes. If using thicker asparagus, it will take a few minutes longer than the thinner asparagus usually buy.
Air Fryer Asparagus
I also love using my Air Fryer because it's such a time saver. Air Fryers are compact and use less electricity than an oven. I use it to roast my Moroccan Potatoes, and this asparagus recipe. Prepare the asparagus as per recipe, except Air Fry them for about 8 minutes. The Air Fryer cooks faster. Remember to shake the asparagus about half way through cooking, ensuring even roasting.
Roast Asparagus Recipe Tips
- Before serving, sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese
- Roast only a single layer of asparagus, don't double the layers of asparagus
- If roasting more than 1 pound or 500g, roast in smaller batches
- Squeeze a fresh lemon or drizzle Balsamic Vinegar over the asparagus before serving
- Roast some mushrooms or cherry tomatoes together with the asparagus for a vegetable medley
Garlic Roasted Asparagus is such an easy side dish to make. Tender with a slight crunch, full of flavor, the perfect side dish! Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!
Ingredients
- 1 bunch of Asparagus thin to medium thick asparagus
- 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Maldon salt flakes
Instructions
Oven Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F
- Cut the woody ends off the asparagus. Place asparagus and sliced garlic on a baking sheet. Drizzle generously with Olive oil and toss to coat.
- Spread the Asparagus and garlic evenly across the baking sheet and sprinkle with salt.
- Roast the asparagus for about 10 minutes until firm yet tender when pierced with a fork. Serve immediately.
Air Fryer Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer to 200°C/400°F
- Cut the woody ends off the asparagus. Place asparagus and sliced garlic on a baking sheet. Drizzle generously with Olive oil and toss to coat.
- Spread the Asparagus and garlic evenly across the Air Fryer tray and sprinkle with salt.
- Roast the asparagus for about 8 minutes, shaking half way of cooking process. Asparagus should be firm yet tender when pierced with a fork. Serve immediately.
©PetersFoodAdventures.com
Bonnie Boudreaux
Since I absolutely love asparagus those is my next grocery store purchase.. fresh asparagus. Thanks for sharing, Peter
Food Shot
Super simple, super easy. Asparagus is one of those veggies that are just so versatile, love them.
Andreya
I used to prepare this asparagus by boiling. I think this will give the more deliciousness than boiling. Thanks for sharing this 🙂
PetersFoodAdventures
Thanks Andreya, they're so much nicer than boiled! 🙂
Anna
Asparagus is a miraculous veg, but, indeed, many people waste it by cooking in water. My husband prepares it in a pretty much the same way as you described and I can attest - it's DELICIOUS. Actually, I have never realized that it's that simple to make. This is what happens if you marry a chef; you start believing that the kitchen is a sanctuary and you can only do dishes and ferment cabbage 😉
PetersFoodAdventures
Haha, yes it’s so easy to make... but the question is... can he do the dishes and ferment cabbage? ????