I really never enjoyed this vegetable until I learned how to cook it roasted.
One of my favorite seasonings is always using Pecorino Romano cheese, olive oil salt, and pepper.
The best part about this easy recipe, you can cook it in the air fryer, pan-fry, or oven-roasted and they all taste fantastic.
The asparagus when on sale is when I stock up, roast it all and use it on salads, side dishes, or snacking on, I absolutely learned to love it cooked this way!
I also prefer to get them really thin baby-sized asparagus they're so tender.
If you looking for great side dishes to make try our 30 Appetizers and Side Dishes there's something for everyone there!
Scroll down and check out these easy cooking methods on our printable recipe card at the end.
Cleaning the Asparagus
The easiest way to clean asparagus is to look at the woody ends and slice them off.
I like to dry them off with paper towels and then toss them in the oil before putting them on the baking sheet..
For easy cleanup, you can even place them on parchment paper or oil-sprayed foil.
Tips and Cooking Methods
- Pan sauteed or Oven Roasted: don't overcook them, check the asparagus to see if it's done at 7 to 9 minutes,(depending on thickness) then keep cooking to how you prefer them
- Microwaved: asparagus can also be microwaved, I add a little water, cover, and make them steam for around 4 minutes
- Air frying(see photo below): use very thin asparagus, brush the oil on your wire basket, and air fry at 400 for 12 to 14 minutes or until crunchy and browned. You can make these ahead of time, refrigerate them covered, and reheat them in foil. DO NOT USE FRESH GARLIC!
- freezing: freeze, cool them on a cookie sheet then place them in a covered container for another time and just reheat them add steamed or air fried asparagus to any appetizer tray, it's a perfect dipping vegetable
- asparagus has many health benefits for eliminating toxins in the kidneys and liver along and also is a great source of nutrients, including fiber, folate, and vitamins A, C, and K.
- see the photo below of crunchy style air-fried these are so delicious!
Ingredients You Will Need
Other Additions and Suggestions
- grated lemon or orange zest on top
- sprinkle with toasted almonds or sesame seeds
- add chopped fresh mint, basil, and parsley to the cream cheese
- add cooked bacon crumbled on top
- drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice with Italian seasoning after cooked
- sprinkle with red pepper flakes and mozzarella cheese 2 minutes before baking time is over for a cheesy spicy topping
- brown some butter around 2 tablespoons and add 18 years aged balsamic vinegar around 2 teaspoons and toss
- Note: try other vegetables with the same ingredients like zucchini sticks or broccoli spears
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Great Side Dish
Asparagus makes a great side dish for any meal and it's also a wonderful appetizer you may remember trying my Prosciutto Phyllo Wrapped Asparagus recipe, it's perfect for a dinner party and they're pretty looking spirals.
The only thing you need to decide is how you prefer them cooked our favorite way is extra crunchy just like potato chips in the air fryer, they're the most asked for in our home with a garlic cheese coating.
If you love vegetables you may also like zucchini fries or cauliflower fried florets, or broccoli rabe all great vegetables recipes to try.
Yield: 6
Garlic Roasted Asparagus
Here is a recipe for asparagus oven-roasted, air fried, or pan-fried with garlic and grated cheese. It's a great side dish for any meal.
Prep time: 4 MinCook time: 12 MinTotal time: 16 Min
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh asparagus cleaned and the woody ends removed
- Note: ( I always use thin for air frying if you want them crunchy)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder for air frying (or use 3 cloves freshly minced garlic for pan-fried or oven roasted)
- 3 tablespoon Pecorino Romano cheese or use Parmesan if you like
- olive oil spray only on the asparagus (for coating your air fryer basket always brush the oil on)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees or medium heat for pan-fried.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Clean and wash the asparagus then trim off woody end pieces.
- Place a thin layer on top of the prepared baking sheet.
- Oil spray the asparagus lightly with a coat of olive oil spray.
- Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic, and cheese.
- I toss the asparagus around with tongs.
- Spray again with oil lightly (or toss in a little olive oil or melted butter if you wish).
- Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes.
- Other Cooking Methods:
- Air Fryer: use very thin asparagus, brush with oil on the wire basket, and air fry at 400 for 12 to 14 minutes or until crunchy and browned (keep an eye on them not to over-brown but get them crunchy like potato chips.).You can make these ahead of time, refrigerate them covered, and reheat them in foil
- Pan-fry or Oven Roasted: I usually spray them with cooking oil or add 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil, fresh garlic, salt, and pepper and saute on medium heat or roast for 7 to 8 minutes depending on thickness at 400 degrees preheated oven,
- Note: if you like asparagus crunchy you will need to roast, air fry, or pan-fried or oven roast longer times.
Calories
48.50Fat (grams)
3.10Sat. Fat (grams)
0.78Carbs (grams)
3.71Fiber (grams)
1.61Net carbs
2.10Sugar (grams)
1.02Protein (grams)
2.73Sodium (milligrams)
223.24Cholesterol (grams)
2.60Pin for later
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