Serve up a nice juicy steak or succulent salmon fillet with a side of grilled asparagus! Unlike other methods for cooking asparagus, grilling gives it a smoky flavor that is irresistible, as well as char marks that are aesthetically pleasing. To achieve tender and sweet grilled asparagus, just fire up the grill (or griddle) and follow this guide:
Ingredients
- 1 pound of fresh asparagus
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Balsamic vinegar (optional)
Directions
- First, preheat grill or griddle to high heat. Trim off the tough bottom of the spears with a knife. Alternatively, you can do this by grasping each end and bending it until it snaps at its most tender point, which is usually two-thirds of the way down. To add, if the spear is less than six inches long, it’s probably been trimmed for you.
- Place the spears in a shallow pan and pour in oil. Massage the oil into each spear ensuring that each spear is evenly coated. Next, sprinkle in salt and pepper and massage again.
- Place the spears on the grill in a single layer. Cook for 4-5 minutes, turning to expose all sides of the spears to heat. When the asparagus begins to brown and the spears are tender, remove from the grill.
- Drizzle the spears with balsamic vinegar and serve immediately.
Adding Extra Flavor
You’re not limited to seasoning your asparagus with salt pepper and a touch of vinegar. For instance, combine melted butter and minced garlic and brush it over cooked spears for the best garlic butter asparagus. Additionally, sprinkle on parmesan cheese to compliment the smokiness and distinct flavor that comes from grilling. Lastly, squeeze lemon juice on your grilled stalks to bring out their sweetness.
Tips For Grilling And Serving Asparagus
- Grilled asparagus can be served with almost anything but are best when served with a protein like beef, fish, chicken, or pork.
- If you’re grilling asparagus directly on the grill rack, choose thick spears. For thinner spears, grill them on top of a vegetable grill basket so they won’t fall through the racks.
- Skewer the asparagus to make it easier to flip and reduce the chances of it falling through the rack.
- You can also grill asparagus in aluminum foil. Just tear off a large piece of foil and place asparagus spears in the center along with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Additionally, grilling asparagus in foil locks in moisture and flavor.
