Oven-Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan, Butter, and Lemon
This dish features tender, oven-roasted asparagus topped with a crispy Parmesan crust, enhanced by the richness of butter and the brightness of lemon. It’s a simple yet elegant recipe that brings the freshness of spring to your table.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450 g) fresh asparagus, trimmed
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup (50 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Zest of 1 medium lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional: Fresh parsley or chives for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200 °C (400 °F). This is important for even and quick roasting of the asparagus.
- Wash the asparagus thoroughly and trim the woody ends by about 2-3 cm. The stalks should look crisp and fresh.
- Place the asparagus on a baking sheet and drizzle the olive oil over it. Toss everything well to ensure the asparagus is evenly coated with oil. This should take about 1 minute.
- Sprinkle salt and freshly ground black pepper over the asparagus to enhance the flavor. Be generous but careful with the salt!
- Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven and roast the asparagus for about 10-12 minutes, until tender but still crisp. Be careful not to overcook it.
- While the asparagus is roasting, melt the butter in a small bowl in the microwave or on the stove. This takes about 30 seconds in the microwave.
- When the asparagus is done roasting, remove the baking sheet from the oven. Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the asparagus and then sprinkle the grated Parmesan and lemon zest on top.
- Return the baking sheet to the oven for another 2-3 minutes, until the Parmesan is slightly melted and golden brown. Be careful not to let it burn.
- After baking, drizzle the fresh lemon juice over the asparagus and optionally garnish with fresh parsley or chives. Serve immediately!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
Keywords: Avoid over-roasting the asparagus; it should remain crisp. A good quality olive oil enhances the flavor significantly. Feel free to adjust the cheese amount to your liking for a richer flavor.