How To Freeze Asparagus:
For the best-frozen asparagus, start with the very freshest asparagus you can get, and work quickly after blanching to reduce mushiness later. Uncooked asparagus needs to be blanched before freezing, to help preserve the color and texture. For cooked asparagus, skip straight to the flash freezing:
- Blanch small spears for 2 minutes, medium spears 3 minutes, and large spears 4 minutes by placing in boiling boiling water and transferring to an ice bath.
- Thoroughly dry the asparagus then arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Flash freeze for 1 to 2 hours, then transfer the asparagus to freezer bags or containers. Push out as much air as possible to help preserve the texture. Freeze for up to 10 months.
What To Serve It With
Roasted asparagus is the perfect side dish to serve with any main meal, protein, or full spread of veggies. And if you were wondering what protein goes well with asparagus, you are in the right place.
I love it alongside Roasted Carrots and Vegan Stuffed Acorn Squash for a full, plant-based meal. Or if you have leftovers, make my Roasted Asparagus Salad recipe.
Its a wonderful addition to those long weekend mornings and brunch gatherings alongside Spinach Feta Frittata and Goat Cheese Quiche, too.
The Best Baked Asparagus On Your Table In 15 Minutes
Parmesan Baked Asparagus boasts all the nutty, caramelized flavors of roasted asparagus plus the nutty, salty goodness of Parmesan and tantalizing buttery, crispy panko! You are going to want to make this easy, addictive dinner side your entire meal! This Baked Asparagus recipe takes just minutes of prep or it can be prepped ahead of time and just popped in the oven when ready . It is a quick, easy dinner side, extremely versatile and healthy too, loaded with fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals!
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Through Thick And Thin
Not all spears of asparagus are created equal. Thin spears are typically younger, with a more mild and fresh flavor, while thicker spears, which were left to grow longer, have a stronger asparagus flavor. Both are delicious. Just stay consistent with what you buy to cook, because cooking with some thick and others that are thin will make it hard to cook all the asparagus evenly.
Top 7 Viral Thanksgiving Recipes: Lets Talk Side Dishes
Weve officially entered the middle of November, meaning that everyone is trying to plan their Thanksgiving menus! Whos bringing and cooking what, and what will the menu look like?
Thanksgiving is what I like to call the Butter Holiday or the Food-Focused Holiday. Dont get me wrong, theres still a lot of butter and food to be consumed on Christmas, but it just feels right to call Thanksgiving the Unofficial Official Butter Holiday!
To continue this four-part series, lets take a look at some viral recipes forside dishes!
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Bacon Wrapped Baked Asparagus
- Par cook thick bacon by lining a plate with a few layers of paper towels. Line with half of the cut bacon in an even layer, and top with a layer of paper towels. Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes . You want the bacon mostly cooked but still soft and PLIABLE. Dont overcook or it will break when wrapping.
- Season the asparagus and drizzle with olive oil.
- Wrap 1 slice of bacon around 2-4 asparagus stalks depending on their thickness to create a bundle. You want the bacon to go up the asparagus so its in a single layer. Place the bundle on the prepared baking sheet, seam-side down.
- Bake until the bacon is crisp and the asparagus is tender.
Tips For The Roasted Asparagus Recipe
- To make your asparagus more tender: You can pre-cook asparagus in the microwave with 1 cup water for 5 minutes, then soak it into ice-cold water before using them.
- Thin asparagus should be done in as little as 10 minutes. Thicker asparagus will need between 15 to 20 minutes.
- We find that parmesan is already salty, so go easy on salt at first, then taste and adjust seasoning to your taste.
- You can use olive oil instead of melted butter.
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How To Season Asparagus
Here are some ideas for flavors that will complement your roasted asparagus. Keep it simple and choose just one or two. Or go all-out like I did, and use all four of the first ideas.
- Lemon zest and/or lemon wedges
- Sprinkle of finely grated Parmesan cheese
- Small handful of fresh mint or parsley, finely chopped
- Light sprinkle of red pepper flakes
- Pat or two of butter
- Light drizzle of balsamic reduction or thick balsamic vinegar
- Toasted sliced almonds
Are You Cooking Asparagus Wrong
When I hear people recoil at the thought of eating asparagus, the first thing I ask them is how they have had it cooked. Inevitably they have been victims of overcooked asparagus spears, boiled to the point of near mush or baked until tough and stringy. No wonder they think they don’t like the vegetable.
What they don’t realize is even those of us who love eating asparagus would push those spears to the edge of our plates as well. The slightly crispy asparagus that results from roasting asparagus is delicious and makes converts!
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How To Season It & What To Put On It
Asparagus seasoning can vary based on your tastes, dietary concerns or what you are going to serve it with. I found the best seasoning for baked asparagus to be a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese, a clove of minced fresh garlic, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
- Adding ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs before cooking
- Sprinkling on ½ teaspoon garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning or Herbs de Provence
- Adding 1-2 pinches red pepper flakes
- Finishing with balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze
- Squeezing on any citrus fruit lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit
- Adding roughly chopped fresh parsley, mint or basil leaves after cooking
- Replacing the olive oil with nutty and aromatic ghee
- Finishing the spears with a tab of butter
- My absolute favorite is garlic parmesan asparagus. Savory, cheesy and somewhat nutty.
- A few other additions can include toasted slivered almonds, lemon zest, or any hard, grated cheese!
The Best Oven Roasted Asparagus
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My best oven-roasted asparagus is a whole new way to roast asparagus and still maintain a crispy, delicious exterior that makes for a great side dish to dinner.
Theres little in this life that cant be improved by roasting it. And one of my favorite veggies to take to the oven and roast is asparagus. Theres something about the crispy texture asparagus takes on when its roasted that makes it taste even better. My simple oven roasted asparagus recipe can be ready in as little as fifteen minutes.
Cooked asparagus in the oven seals in the natural, nutty flavor of this summertime staple. Also, it enhances the flavor with a blend of garlic, olive oil, and a little char. If youre wondering how to roast asparagus and make a simple side dish for a picnic, barbecue, or just for dinner Ive got you covered. Its a great healthy side dish.
The health benefits of asparagus are also significant. With only five ingredients, this oven-roasted asparagus is super good for you. Plus, it doesnt take away any of the nutrients .
Asparagus provides amazing nutrition. It is naturally rich in fiber and low in calories, high in Vitamins K, C, and A, and antioxidants. It has been shown to support pregnancy and lower blood pressure.
So, lets bake!
And check my Air Fryer Asparagus recipe for how to bake asparagus in an air fryer! Or check my guide on how to cook asparagus to perfection.
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How Do I Make Oven Roasted Asparagus
To roast vegetables, make sure to start with a preheated, hot oven. I use 425 degrees, but if you are cooking other parts of your meal at the same time, this temperature can be adjusted a little up or down either way and you will still get a great result.
In addition to the preheated, hot oven, make sure your vegetables are not crowded on the pan. Overcrowding can cause the vegetables to steam, as opposed to roasting.
To prepare Oven Roasted Asparagus, snap the bottom ends off the spears about an inch from the bottom. You can also choose to cut off the bottoms with a knife if you prefer. Often this is where the whitish end turns green. The whitish bottoms can be tough and slightly stringy.
Place the Asparagus spears on a cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Turn to coat them and then sprinkle kosher or sea salt and fresh cracked pepper.
Roast them in the preheated oven for 10 minutes and your result will be a juicy, tender but still slightly crisp Asparagus Spear.
When making Oven Roasted Asparagus, I usually choose a thicker stalk. Sometimes only pencil thin Asparagus is available. This is fine, but slightly less time in the oven may be necessary if a tender, crisp result is desired.
Oven Roasted Asparagus is the perfect accompaniment to so many dishes. I really love it with seafood dishes like my Pan Seared Salmon with Cream Sauce or Baked FRESH Salmon Cakes. These Sticky Asian Barbecue Ribs and Spatchcock Roasted Chicken are a few other great ideas!
How To Prepare Asparagus
If youre working with fresh asparagus, youll want to start by rinsing it to get rid of any dirt, dust, or germs. If necessary, you should remove the woody ends of the asparagus . You can easily snap or cut them. Dont try to roast or bake your asparagus without prepping it first it wont taste very nice.
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Roasted Asparagus With Parmesan
If you want to jazz up the classic roasted asparagus in oven recipe, I have a quick and easy solution. Follow the same basic recipe. Once youve added your minced garlic, sprinkle the asparagus with freshly grated parmesan cheese just before you roast it.
This baked asparagus recipe will have a whole new boost of flavor and can elevate a familiar side dish. Garlic parmesan asparagus is a favorite of mine.
Should I Blanch Asparagus Before Roasting
This step is completely optional and I often skip it.
Blanching asparagus spears is a simple process. The vegetables are boiled in hot, salty water for a short amount of time, then immediately placed in ice water. It keeps the beautiful green flavor when youre baking asparagus.
Plus, itll also give you a headstart on the process of cooking asparagus in oven. It also means that when you bake them, the outside wont overcook before the insides are done. Itll keep them beautifully crisp too.
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How To Store Fresh Asparagus
Not unlike herbs, it’s best to store asparagus standing up in a cup of water in the fridge until ready to cook. Makes sure to trim the ends first and cover the upright spears loosely with a plastic bag.
Best practice is to use asparagus soon after buying, as the sugars naturally found in the stalk will migrate to the ends and can make the spears tough and stringy, but the water glass technique can make fresh asparagus last three to five days. Want to store it for longer? Try freezing it.
How Long To Bake Asparagus At 375 Degrees
Other than what temperature to cook it at the biggest question you will have is how long to bake the vegetable. This can be done various ways, but foremost in my mind is always not to overcook it. It can quickly become mushy with wet cooking techniques, or dried-out if baked, broiled or grilled too long. Cooking times will vary based on the thickness of the asparagus and of course the cooking temperature. We are looking for a tender spears, yet with a slight snap to them when you take a bite. I prefer to bake asparagus at 375 degrees myself.
When making asparagus in the oven at 375 degrees :
- Thin asparagus spears – total cook time 16-20 min
- Thick asparagus spears- total cooking time 20-22 min
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What Temp Do You Bake Asparagus
Roastasparagus at 425 degrees for 7-10 minutes, or until they are crisp tender.
Thereare several factors that affect the roasting time of baked asparagus such as thickness,the actual temperature of your oven, the age of the asparagus and your desiredcrisp-tenderness. I suggest testing yourasparagus at 7 minutes then cooking a few minutes longer if you would like itless crunchy.
Asparagus In The Oven
This Baked Asparagus recipe is so simple, youll wonder why you never started roasting asparagus before. All it takes is 5 simple ingredients for you can make time and time again.If you were ever looking for a healthy way to cook asparagus, along with tips and tricks on how to prep and store, you have come to the right place. Serve this simple green side dish for dinner along meat, chicken or veggies. Or whip up some eggs for a spectacular brunch soiree.
This oven-roasted asparagus recipe is created for one reason and that is because I am always looking for simple, straightforward ways to incorporate more greens into my diet. And side dishes, especially vegetable side dishes, give me an excuse to do so.
Cooking asparagus in the oven delivers a quick and healthy side dish that is easily customizable. Plus, I think it is the easiest way to cook it. Once you learn all there is to know about prepping, storing and cooking, the fun part comes in the seasoning and serving.
Add this baked asparagus to your recipe book. I promise you that itll be one youll turn to over and over again. If youd rather cook asparagus on the stove, be sure to check out my Sauteed Asparagus Recipe, and if you want to try your hand in cooking it in the air fryer be sure to try my Air Fryer Asparagus recipe as well.
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Oven Roasted Asparagus Ingredients & Substitutions
There are only six ingredients in this roasted asparagus recipe . Here are a few possible substitutions:
- Fresh asparagus. Make sure to trim the asparagus well so you don’t end up roasting any tough parts of the vegetable .
- Olive oil. Avocado oil or herb-infused olive oils also taste great in this recipe.
- Minced garlic. I usually use jarred minced garlic, but fresh minced garlic works well too!
How To Bake Asparagus In The Oven
Baked asparagus is such a simple cooking technique. Its an incredibly easy and healthy side to have in your cooking repertoire. Simply:
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Do You Have To Peel Asparagus
You dont have to peel asparagus. But, you do want to trim the end off of the asparagus stalk, as its very tough, woody, and inedible. You can either snap it off with your hands, cut it with a chefs knife or peel it with a vegetable peeler.
Some recipes call for peeling the asparagus if its part of a shaved salad or a topping of for pizza. Its a great option to switch up the cooking technique, but in this baked asparagus recipe, were not peeling it.
How Long To Cook Asparagus In The Oven
If youre wondering how long to roast asparagus in the oven when theyre different sizes dont worry. Youll just need to adjust the timings based on the thickness of the roasted asparagus.
Generally, the best roast asparagus will need to cook for 12-15 minutes in a preheated oven to 400 ºF/200ºC. But the time should be adjusted for the size. Heres an easy guide for roasting asparagus:
- Thin: 8-11 minutes
The best asparagus will be lightly browned and fork-tender when its ready.
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How To Store It
Leftover asparagus can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
During the week, I enjoy them chilled from the fridge for lunch or slightly rewarmed when it comes dinner time.
I do not recommend freezing the roasted asparagus. Upon reheating, the spears become waterlogged and mushy.