Lemon Asparagus
This lemon asparagus in the oven is a quick and easy side dish. With just 5 ingredients and 20 minutes, this delicious roasted asparagus is great for almost any meal!
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh asparagus
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 whole lemon zest and juice only
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375˚ and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Wash asparagus and trim off the bottom 1-2 inches of the stalks and discard.
- Place asparagus on the prepared sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Zest and juice the lemon and sprinkle the zest on the asparagus. Set aside lemon juice for later.
- Roast asparagus in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes until asparagus is tender and slightly browned.
- Squeeze the fresh lemon juice over the asparagus and serve.
Notes
- Choose asparagus that is thin as it is more tender and has better flavor. They should be a rich green color that fades to white towards the bottom of the stalk. Make sure they are firm to the touch and not soft or shriveled.
- If the asparagus is wilted, cut off the bottom inch of the stalks and place them in a couple of inches of water. Place a plastic bag over the top of the stalks and let them sit in the fridge for 1-2 hours to firm up a bit.
- Chop off the last inch or two of the the ends of the asparagus. Sometimes they can be tough and woody and it's best to not use them.
- Just roast the asparagus in the oven until they are tender and lightly browned. Depending on the actual size of the asparagus, roasting times my vary.
Substitutions and Variations
- Cheese - Sprinkle roasted asparagus with finely shredded parmesan
- Spicy - Season the asparagus with ¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes before roasting.
Alternative Cooking Methods
- Grill - This lemon asparagus can be cooked on the grill or a grill pan on medium heat for 7-10 minutes until the asparagus is tender and lightly browned.
- Pan sear - Cook the seasoned lemon asparagus in a pan on the stovetop over medium heat for approximately 8-12 minutes until lightly browned and tender.
- Air Fryer - Place seasoned lemon asparagus in the air fryer and cook at 325˚ for 8-12 minutes until tender and lightly browned.
Make Ahead and Storage Instructions
The asparagus can be washed, trimmed and seasoned and stored on the prepared sheet pan, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, in the refrigerator up to 2 days ahead of time. Leftover lemon asparagus will keep for 3-5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator and can be heated up in the microwave, in a pan on the stovetop or in the oven until heated through.Nutrition
Serving: 4ouncesCalories: 93kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 294mgPotassium: 268mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 864IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 3mg
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