Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Vinegar

Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Vinegar transforms fresh asparagus spears, bought on impulse at the market, into a delicious side dish to serve at dinner, all with a minimum of fuss.

Asparagus Season

Summer will be here in another week. Though I have been enjoying fresh asparagus since early spring, I am still finding pretty bundles of locally grown asparagus at the market. I brought home another bunch just yesterday.

Asparagus is such an elegant vegetable. With very little preparation it is ready to cook and always looks fantastic on a plate. No matter how I prepare it, this handsome vegetable makes a smart complement to almost any entree. So, how can I resist grabbing another bundle when it is right there in front of me?

When tender spears of fresh asparagus first showed up at the produce stand months ago, I searched for new recipes that would showcase their supple beauty and intriguing taste. I served asparagus with a great Asian dressing in Asparagus with Walnut Dressing, I tried it with a Spanish influence in Asparagus with Toasted Bead Crumbs and Olives and I added it to Spring Paella. In every recipe it met or exceeded my expectations.

A Quick Weeknight Side Dish

Now that spring has raced into summer, asparagus and I are on much more familiar terms. Our relationship has grown more routine. Even on a weeknight, when my family’s schedule is crazy and dinner is rushed, asparagus is still there. I know that, even if I don’t have much time to spend with it, I can count on it to perform. Time after time, as I search the produce aisle for a quick dinner side dish, asparagus is the answer. I know I can trust it to shine, to share its flavorful goodness, even without a lot of thought or effort on my part.

For those kinds of evenings, I cook Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Vinegar. It is a very simple recipe. No shopping list is required. It takes you from gorgeous produce purchased on impulse at the market, to the dinner plate, without a lot of fuss. All you need is the asparagus, a little olive oil and some balsamic vinegar. Then season to taste for a quick and easy side dish that is appealing and delicious.

Enjoy!

Roasted Asparagus

Course: Sides, VegetablesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

8

minutes

Cooking time

7

minutes

Total time

15

minutes

Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Vinegar takes you from gorgeous fresh produce to a delicious side dish without a lot of fuss.

Ingredients

• 1 pound asparagus spears, more or less

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil

• salt and black pepper

• 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Directions

• Preheat broiler.
• Wash and trim asparagus.
• Fill a large saucepan with 1/2 inch water. Bring the water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt and the asparagus spears and cover. Steam for 2 minutes.
• Drain asparagus spears and pat dry. Arrange on a baking sheet. Drizzle them with the olive oil turning until spears until completely coated with the oil.
• Broil under preheated broiler for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer asparagus to a serving platter. Sprinkle with the balsamic vinegar. Season, as desired, with salt and pepper.

Notes

• Recipe Source: from Donata Maggipinto’s Real-Life Entertaining.
• Medium sized asparagus spears work best for this dish.