Description
A simple and flavorful recipe for grilled asparagus, enhanced with zesty lemon and optionally topped with Parmesan cheese. Perfect as a healthy side dish ready in under 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 lb fresh asparagus
Seasonings
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Optional Toppings
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (400°F / 200°C) to ensure it’s ready for cooking the asparagus evenly and quickly.
- Prepare Asparagus: Wash the asparagus thoroughly and trim about 1 inch from the tough bottom ends to remove woody parts.
- Season Asparagus: In a large bowl, drizzle the asparagus with extra virgin olive oil, then sprinkle with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss gently to coat each spear evenly.
- Add Lemon Zest: Grate fresh lemon zest over the asparagus and toss again to distribute the bright, citrus flavor across all spears.
- Grill Asparagus: Place the asparagus spears perpendicular to the grill grates to prevent them from falling through. Grill for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until the asparagus is tender yet still crisp.
- Serve: Remove the asparagus from the grill and serve immediately. Optionally, sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top for an added savory touch.
Notes
- Trimming the asparagus ends ensures a tender bite without any tough, woody texture.
- Grilling asparagus perpendicular to the grates helps avoid losing spears through the grill.
- Adding grated Parmesan cheese is optional but gives a nice creamy, salty enhancement.
- This recipe is great served hot off the grill but can also be enjoyed at room temperature.
