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Grilled asparagus will quickly become your new favorite grilled side dish. It is always such an easy and delicious side dish for grilling.
If you are looking for a new way to enjoy asparagus, this simple recipe to grill features only a few ingredients to season your asparagus to perfection as you grill it to the best texture within just eight minutes.
Do you wash asparagus before grilling?
Yes, you should rinse it off before grilling. You should actually do this with any vegetable that you’re going to put on the grill.
How do you cut asparagus for the grill?
Cutting your asparagus for the grill isn’t anything different from cutting any other way. Just cut off the stems right where the green part meets the white part at the bottom of the asparagus.
The best way to trim asparagus is to use a sharp knife to cut off the woody ends of your asparagus.
Some people prefer to just snap the asparagus ends off then wash the asparagus prior to making this grilled asparagus recipe.
You can actually use those trimmed ends of the asparagus in other recipes like a Creamy Asparagus Ends Soup Recipe. If you are a fan of making soups, toss them in there for enhanced flavor and texture.
If you prefer not to cut the ends of the asparagus, you’re going to throw away more of the asparagus because you’re going to get more stringiness in the stalk due to the end still being attached.
Cutting off the bottom of the asparagus is something that I feel should be done every time so that you can just concentrate on enjoying it all.
Ingredients for Grilled Asparagus
- asparagus
- a high-quality extra-virgin olive oil (like this one)
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Lemons, optional
- Fresh grated parmesan cheese, optional
This will get rid of the bitter and hard part of the asparagus that just isn’t a pleasant experience to eat.
How to grill asparagus
It’s easy to grill asparagus. Simply preheat your grill to 350 degrees F, or medium-high heat depending on what setting your grill has.
Once you’ve trimmed the asparagus and seasoned it, you’ll grill asparagus for 5-8 minutes in a grill-safe pan, directly on the grill, or aluminum foil, turning frequently.
Can grilled asparagus be overcooked (over grilled)?
You bet. If you notice that the asparagus that you cooked on the grill is a bit mushy, it just means that you overcooked it. You can still eat it but it’s going to not have that crisp texture that it should have.
What do asparagus taste like?
Some people say that asparagus tastes similar to broccoli, green beans, or artichokes. Others have said that asparagus has a strong distinctive taste with a mildly bitter flavor.
Tip: It’s easy to tell if your asparagus has gone bad, because it will become soft and mushy.
You’ll notice that the skin may have become discolored too, in this case the asparagus is no longer save to consume.
Within just 5-8 minutes, you will have delicious and healthy grilled asparagus that pairs well with just about any main course!
Grilled Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 bunch asparagus
- 2-3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Serving
- Lemons optional
- Fresh grated parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- Preheat grill to 350 degrees F or medium high heat
- Clean and trim ends of asparagus with a knife or snap them off
- Add asparagus to pan large enough to hold them, like a baking sheet
- Drizzle with olive oil
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper
- Grill asparagus directly 5-8 minutes, depending on size, turning frequently
- Serve immediately with grilled or fresh lemons slices or freshly grated parmesan cheese if you like
