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Elevate your side dish game with this oven roasted asparagus recipe โ€“ Itโ€™s tender, lightly crisp, and subtly caramelized in just 15 minutes, with customizable flavor options!

completed Roasted Asparagus on platter
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Why Youโ€™ll Love This Recipe

Roasting veggies is the perfect way to enjoy caramelized, crisp edges, and concentrated flavor, all while retaining plenty of nutrients. Whenever you need a simple side dish, try options like roasted cherry tomatoes, curry roasted broccoli, and this simple roasted asparagus.

This recipe for roasted asparagus is honestly one of the quickest and easiest vegetable side dishes! Just trim the ends, season, and roast to perfection in 8-10 minutes. Itโ€™s fresh, simple, relies on minimal ingredients, and is super customizable โ€“ whether making asparagus with sesame (as pictured), garlic, lemon, etc.  

Plus, asparagus is loaded with nutrients like vitamins A, C, E, and K, calcium, iron, zinc, and folic acid, as well as plenty of fiber and antioxidants. Itโ€™s the perfect springtime side dish. You might also enjoy lemon garlic sautรฉed asparagus, shiitake asparagus tofu stir-fry, or asparagus soup.

The Ingredients

Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and quantities.

ingredients for Roasted Asparagus measured out on a white surface

How To Pick Asparagus

The best oven-roasted asparagus comes from the freshest spears. Look for:

  • Asparagus tips that are compact and closed.
  • Stalks that are firm and smooth, not wilted or slimy.
  • Bright green (or slightly purplish).
  • Medium-sized stalks work best– thicker stalks can be overripe/woody, and thin stalks burn/wilt quickly.

Recipe Variations

For the photographed version, I made simple yet tasty tahini asparagus with sesame seeds. However, roasted asparagus is really versatile and easy to customize.

  • Garlic roasted asparagus: Add ยฝ-1tsp garlic powder or 2-3 minced garlic cloves.
  • Vegan parmesan roasted asparagus: Add garlic (above) and grated (about ยผ cup) vegan parmesan or 1-2 tbsp nutritional yeast (guide to nutritional yeast) before serving. Vegan feta cheese works too.
  • Lemon roasted asparagus: Add the juice of ยฝ a lemon, + ยฝ lemon slices over the asparagus. Add zest for more flavor. Combine with garlic and/or vegan parmesan.
  • Breaded: Roll the oiled asparagus in Italian panko breadcrumbs.
  • Balsamic: Drizzle with 1-2 tbsp of aged balsamic vinegar/balsamic glaze to serve.
  • Pine nuts: (or slivered almonds) lightly toasted, to garnish for crunch.
  • Vegan butter: Before serving, for rich flavor.

How to Trim Asparagus

Itโ€™s important to trim asparagus spears to remove the tough, woody, fibrous ends (aka endless chewing).

  1. With a knife: Line up the ends of a single layer of asparagus, hold steady, and trim the end 1-3 inches of spears, where the stalks turn white to green.
  2. By hand: Working one spear at a time, gently bend near the end until it snaps. It naturally snaps at the right spot. Repeat with the remaining spears โ€“ they wonโ€™t break in the same spot.

How to Make Roasted Asparagus

process shot showing asparagus on surface

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 450F/230C. Then, rinse and trim the asparagus (see method above). Spread the asparagus across a baking tray, being careful not to overcrowd, and optionally drizzle with olive oil (for extra crispiness). Roast the asparagus for 8-10 minutes (up to 15 minutes for thicker spears) until vibrant, tender-crisp, and with a few dark spots.

For Sesame Asparagus:

process shot showing sesame seeds in pan
process shot showing sesame seeds being added to asparagus

Step 2: While the asparagus roasts, toast the sesame seeds in a skillet until browned/toasty (a few minutes โ€“ be careful, they burn easily). Then, remove from the heat and set aside.

Step 3: When ready, drizzle the roasted asparagus with the tahini and lemon juice, then sprinkle with salt and sesame seeds, toss, add black pepper, and serve.

FAQs

How to store fresh asparagus?

Asparagus stores best like a bouquet of flowers, trimmed and stored upright in a glass with an inch of water. Place a plastic bag over the glass and store it in the refrigerator for 5-7 days, replacing the water daily.

Why is my roasted asparagus soggy?

This is likely due to overcooking the asparagus spears and/or roasting them while wet or overcrowded (which steams the spears instead of roasting them).

Pro Recipe Tips

  • Trim the stalks: The ends are tough and chewy, so itโ€™s important to remove them.
  • Make sure theyโ€™re dry: Otherwise, the asparagus will steam, not roast.
  • Use high heat: 425-450F is ideal. This caramelizes the stalks, enhancing their natural sweetness and flavor in the short roasting time.
  • Cooking time can vary: Based on the asparagus spear thickness and your oven. Try to use similar-sized spears so they roast evenly.

Serving Recommendations

Oven-roasted asparagus is a simple, versatile, nutrient-dense side dish alongside:

Storage Information

Store: Roasted asparagus is best right out of the oven. However, you can cool any leftovers and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Reheat: Roast at 350F/177C or pan-fry in a skillet with oil/butter until warm.

completed Roasted Asparagus in storage dish

Roasted Asparagus

5 from 24 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Elevate your side dish game with this oven roasted asparagus recipe โ€“ Itโ€™s tender, lightly crisp, and subtly caramelized in just 15 minutes, with customizable flavor options!

Ingredients 

  • 1 bunch of fresh asparagus, washed and dried
  • ยผ cup of sesame seeds
  • ยผ cup of tahini
  • 1 lemon
  • ยฝ teaspoon of salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and place asparagus spears on a baking sheet. Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes until bright green and tender. They may brown in some spots, but this is good.
  • While cooking asparagus, toast sesame seeds in a skillet on low heat (they burn easily). Stir them continuously, in 5 to 10 minutes they will start to smell toasty, and will be browning slightly. Take them off the heat and set them aside.
  • When the asparagus is done, place it on a wide plate and drizzle tahini and lemon juice over the top. Toss them to coat. Sprinkle it with salt and sesame seeds and toss again. Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Trim the stalks: The ends are tough and chewy, so itโ€™s important to remove them.
  • Make sure theyโ€™re dry: Otherwise, the asparagus will steam, not roast.
  • Use high heat: 425-450F is ideal. This caramelizes the stalks, enhancing their natural sweetness and flavor in the short roasting time.
  • Cooking time can vary: Based on the asparagus spear thickness and your oven. Try to use similar-sized spears so they roast evenly.

Nutrition

Calories: 173kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 7gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 300mgPotassium: 378mgFiber: 5gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 867IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 147mgIron: 5mg

Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Additional Info

Author: Renee Press
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Method: Oven
Diet: Vegan
Tried this recipe?Please tag us at @PlantBasedOnABudget! ๐Ÿ™‚
About

Renee Press

Renee Press is the founder of Fire and Earth Kitchen in Seattle WA. which offers cooking classes, food coaching, and chef services. She’s on a mission to make vegan, gluten-free cooking easy, accessible, and delicious for everyone. fireandearthkitchen.com

More about Renee Press
5 from 24 votes (23 ratings without comment)

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