Roasted asparagus is a great vegan dish. Learn how to roast asparagus in your gas or charcoal grill so it’s tender and flavorful without becoming shriveled up and dried out.
Asparagus is a favorite spring vegetable, but it’s available pretty much year around. There’s not much flavor difference between small and large spears, but you do notice a difference in the taste if you buy asparagus that’s not fresh. Stay away from limp, dried out looking asparagus, and be especially careful when it’s out of season. Non-local asparagus may have travelled a long way before reaching your store, so it’s not exactly fresh picked.
How to Roast Asparagus
To help keep the asparagus from drying out as it roasts, always give it a good coating of vegetable oil or olive oil. The oil also helps keep the seasonings stuck on the spears. The base of the asparagus stalks can be tough, so before oiling them up, either snap or cut off the tough ends, or use a vegetable peeler and peel the tough skin off.
If roasting the asparagus directly on the grate, set up your grill so there’s a hot zone and a cool zone. When laying the asparagus on the grate, position the base of each spear nearest the heat, and the tip pointing away. The tips are more delicate, and require less heat to cook. Preheat your grill before putting on the asparagus, and keep the lid closed as it roasts.
When roasting asparagus in a heavy baking pan, place the empty pan over direct heat for a few minutes before adding the oiled, seasoned asparagus. Move the pan off of the direct heat to finish, again, with the lid of the grill closed. Preheating the pan helps create more browning, more flavor on the asparagus.
And if you don’t like cleaning dishes, simply wrap the asparagus in a foil packet. Use heavy duty foil, and form the packet so it’s wide and flat. The asparagus should be no more than two or three layers deep. Place the packet over direct heat for a few minutes to brown the asparagus, then move it to the cool area to finish roasting.
Now that you know how to roast asparagus, try this grill roasted asparagus recipe. The roasted asparagus can be served as is, or used as in ingredient in other recipes.