Since April is officially Asparagus officinalis season, let's maximize our consumption and enjoyment of these beautiful, bright green stalks while they're at their peak with five easy cooking methods. Some old, some new, but all tried and true.
Heat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Toss the asparagus with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
Roast 7-10 minutes, turning once halfway through, or until the spears are tender and the tips are golden brown.
Season with lemon juice, balsamic reduction, and/or shaved parmesan to taste and serve immediately.
Grilled Asparagus
Heat a grill to medium high heat (about 400°F). Place a grill pan on the grill if desired for easy clean-up.
Combine the asparagus spears and olive oil in a casserole dish. Work the oil into the asparagus spears until well coated.
Transfer the asparagus spears to the grill in an even layer. If placing directly onto the grill, position perpendicular to the grill grates. Grill 6-7 minutes for thinner spears, or 8-9 minutes for thicker spears with the lid open. Turn once with tongs halfway through.
Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
Sautéed Asparagus
Heat a 10" skillet over medium high heat. Add the pine nuts and shake to distribute into an even layer. Toast, shaking the pan frequently, until the pine nuts are golden brown and very fragrant, 5-7 minutes. Remove the pine nuts and set aside.
Add the oil and heat until it shimmers. Add the asparagus and garlic and toss until well coated.
Cover and cook, stirring every 2-3 minutes, until the asparagus is charred and tender, about 6 minutes.
Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with the toasted pine nuts and shredded parmesan cheese; serve immediately.
Baked Asparagus
Heat the oven to 400°F.
Arrange the asparagus in a 2-quart baking dish, then drizzle with the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss until evenly coated, then arrange into an even layer.
Transfer to the oven and bake until the spears are tender, 10-12 minutes. Serve immediately.
Air Fryer Asparagus
Trim the asparagus ends, then place into the basket of the air fryer. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then gently toss until the asparagus is evenly coated.
Program the air fryer to 400°F for 6 minutes; remove the basket and shake once halfway through. If the asparagus isn't cooked to taste, return the basket to the air fryer and cook 1-2 minutes longer (especially for thicker asparagus spears).
Season to taste with balsamic reduction or vinegar, or season with a lemon juice and grated parmesan cheese.
Notes
Season it! Try one of these additions to cooked asparagus for additional flavor:
A drizzle of balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze
A squeeze of fresh lemon juice and/or zest and finely grated parmesan cheesed
Toasted pine nuts or pecans, plus thinly shaved parmesan cheese
Garlic, garlic, and more garlic. Add a clove or two of minced garlic or a half-teaspoon garlic powder to roasted asparagus, baked asparagus, or air fryer asparagus along with the olive oil, salt, and pepper.