How to Grill Asparagus
The flavor of this simple, grilled asparagus recipe will amaze you. The crispy, slightly charred ends are a perfect contrast to the tender fresh asparagus stalks. In 5-7 minutes, you can serve up one of nature’s healthiest foods to your family all summer long. Here is how to grill asparagus…
Why Eat Asparagus?
This veggie is a POWERHOUSE. No wonder my dad was always trying to get us to eat it as kids. Asparagus is low in calories, high in fiber, and packed with antioxidants. (Antioxidants prevent the accumulation of harmful free radicals and may reduce your risk of chronic disease.)
Get this, mamas: asparagus is also high in folate, a nutrient that is vital for a healthy pregnancy and many important processes in the body, including cell growth and DNA formation. If you’re in the baby-making stage of life, eat your asparagus! If you’re not, eat your asparagus! It’s really an amazing vegetable for anyone.
Why Grill Asparagus?
It wasn’t until I learned how to grill asparagus and roast it in the oven that I realized I actually liked it. Like, REALLY like it. In my opinion, the way I grew up eating it (boiled or steamed) just make it…icky.
The flavor that comes from grilled asparagus is distinctly different. The open flames from a grill char the ends, giving it a smokey crispness that serves as a perfect contrast to those tender stalks. I could eat perfectly grilled asparagus like french fries.
How Should I Season Grilled Asparagus?
You’ll be amazed at how the simple ingredients in this recipe (oil, salt, and pepper) will be all you need. But, if you’d like to tinker with the recipe, I think that dried Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, or lemon pepper would be fun playmates with asparagus.
For this recipe though, we kept it simple and plenty delicious. Toss it with oil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
How Long Should I Grill Asparagus?
This is where great asparagus can live and die. A few minutes makes all the difference. Overcooked: womp womp. Undercooked: like biting into a stick.
Since every grill is going to be a bit different, you’re going to have to see this as more of an art, not a science. I have found that medium-high heat works best (or, for my gas grill that runs really hot, medium worked well). You’ll know when the heat level is just right, because you can hold your hand about 5 inches above the grate for only 3-4 seconds. Then, you’ll grill the asparagus for 5-7 minutes, pulling them off when they are just crisp-tender.
Recipes that Pair Well with Grilled Asparagus
If you don’t plan to eat your grilled asparagus like french fries as I do, here are some recipes they’d go well with:
- Mini Wild Salmon Patties with Lemony Avocado Sauce
- Grilled Sirloin Steak Kebabs
- Southwest Grilled Chicken Tenders
- Pesto Burgers
- Almost any seafood recipe!
Video Tutorial on How to Grill Asparagus
We’ve pulled all this information on how to grill asparagus into a short video for you.
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The flavor of this simple, grilled asparagus recipe will amaze you. The crispy, slightly charred ends are a perfect contrast to the tender fresh asparagus stalks.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 – 2 pounds asparagus, tough ends snapped off*
- 1–2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. (You should be able to hold your hand about 5 inches above it for 3-4 seconds.)
- In a baking dish or bowl, toss the asparagus with the oil. Season with salt and pepper lightly and toss again.
- Using tongs, place the asparagus directly on the grill. Cook for 5-7 minutes, turning a few times to evenly char the stalks. Remove while they are crisp-tender.
- Season with more salt and pepper, if desired. Serve with a squeeze of lemon (optional).
Notes
*To prep the asparagus: Rinse them and then snap off the lower 2 inches or so, wherever they bend and break naturally. (You can save these and use in a soup later.)
How to Cook Asparagus in the Oven
Alas, if you are unable to grill your asparagus, it is still absolutely delicious in the oven. Hop over to this post to see our recipe for Oven Roasted Asparagus.
