Perfect Roasted Asparagus

• servings: 4 servings
• total time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 large bunch (about 1 pound) fresh asparagus

1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil

Salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Zest and juice of ½ medium lemon, preferably organic

Lemon wedges, from the remaining ½ lemon

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

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus (if you sharply bend the asparagus near the base, it will snap in the right place). Discard the ends.

Place the asparagus on the sheet and drizzle with 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil, just enough to lightly coat the asparagus. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the asparagus, and toss until the spears are lightly coated in oil. Arrange the spears in a single layer on the pan.

Bake just until the base of the asparagus is easily pierced through by a fork. Very thin asparagus, like the kind shown here, will take as little as 9 to 12 minutes, whereas thicker asparagus will need 15 to 20 minutes.

Transfer the roasted asparagus to a serving platter and season however you’d like. You could keep it simple with a squeeze of lemon juice, or a sprinkle of Parmesan, or add a pat of butter or drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

Roasted asparagus is best served when it’s fresh out of the oven, but it will keep at room temperature for up to 1 hour or up to 4 days in the refrigerator (gently reheat before serving).

Nutrition

• Calories: 33
• Total Fat: 1.3 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Sodium: 147.5 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 4.7 g
• Dietary Fiber: 2.3 g
• Total Sugars: 2.1 g
• Protein: 2.3 g