7 Easy Steps On How To Grill Asparagus
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Quick Grilled Asparagus Recipe:
- Before washing, chop the thick asparagus spear and the thicker stalks of the vegetable.
- Wash asparagus and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Place fresh asparagus on a cutting board and cut the existing spear to your preferred length.
- Preheat the grill to 375º F.
- Season asparagus with lemon juice, olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder while the grill heats.
- Wrap asparagus in tin foil and place on the grill for 4 minutes.
- Sprinkle lemon juice and parmesan cheese.
- Drizzle balsamic vinegar and serve with grilled salmon, grilled corn, or grilled zucchini.
A batch of fresh asparagus is insanely underrated. Be it grilled salmon or cooking any chicken recipe, asparagus makes its place known on your plate. There are plenty of ways you can make the ‘perfect grilled asparagus’.
You can pop it in the air fryer, saute it in a skillet, or wrap it in some tin foil and place it on your charcoal grill or grill pan for a stunning rusty color. It’s all down to the method and the seasonings used. In this blog, we’ll go over all the ways you can make the best-grilled asparagus in town. My fellow asparagus enthusiasts, stick around for this one.
Chef's Knife 8"Valhalla Series | Dalstrong
1. What To Look For When Buying Asparagus
Regardless of the asparagus recipe you follow, picking the right kind of asparagus determines the outcome. For instance, if you plan on grabbing as little as 1 pound of asparagus, here is everything that you should be on the lookout for and not ignore.
Firmness
Since the tips of the asparagus hold the most flavor, it is best to buy asparagus that is unwilted and firm.
Thicker Stalks
Choosing thicker stalks makes the asparagus more ‘meaty’ and is full of flavor. These asparagus stalks can be grilled, roasted, steamed or sauteed.
Spear
The spear should be bright and radiant green with specks of white at the bottom. If the bottom is purple, that is perfectly fine too.
Color
Bright green, white, and purple asparagus are excellent. If the colors are slightly faded, that means the asparagus isn’t fresh.
Temperature
If it is possible, try buying asparagus that is chilled, cold, or in a container with clean water. This helps keep the asparagus fresh for a long time.
2. How To Store Asparagus
Since Asparagus is a seasonal vegetable – Sprouting only in the spring – You want to make sure that it lasts you longer than a handful of days. Here are the best methods you can use to store asparagus for a long time without compromising on its taste or texture.
Avoiding water
While the stems should remain moist, you need to ensure that the remaining asparagus does not get wet. You shouldn’t soak it either.
Trimming
Trim about half an inch from the bottom of the asparagus and store it upright in a jar with just enough cold water to cover the stems.
Refrigeration
After trimming, place the asparagus in a jar with water and wrap the tips of the asparagus with a damp paper towel and then place the entire jar in a loose-fitting bag made with plastic, or in the vegetable section of your refrigerator.
Peeling
You can peel the stems of the asparagus to make it last longer, especially if the stems are uneven.
3. How To Prepare Asparagus for Grilling
It is all about the seasoning. Seasoning your asparagus doesn’t just add taste to the vegetable, but also helps retain the moisture and thickness of the tips. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on how to prepare asparagus for grilling.
Steps:
- Place fresh asparagus on a cutting board and trim off any excess spears with a chef’s knife.
- Use a chef’s knife and cut the stalks at even lengths if you’re all about that presentation. You can also remove any spears with a Y peeler or a swivel peeler.
- At this stage, preheat your charcoal grill and spread your asparagus on a sheet of tin foil.
- In a bowl, add kosher salt, half a teaspoon of softened butter and balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, pepper, and lemon juice.
Tips:
- Don’t remove the spears that are just below the tips of the asparagus.
- Adding softened butter is optional, but it gives your asparagus a rich and creamy taste.
4. How To Make Perfect Grilled Asparagus (Recipes)
If there’s one thing asparagus recipes have to offer, it is excellent nutrition – But, we’ll get into that in a little bit. Here are the steps on making the best-grilled asparagus that can be served with grilled salmon or crab cakes.
Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Butter
- Lemon juice
- Parmesan cheese
- Black pepper
- Kosher salt
- Lemon
- Whole garlic
- Garlic Powder
- Balsamic vinegar
Steps:
- Once you’ve trimmed the vegetable to your liking, place asparagus on a large sheet of tin foil and have the grill heated at medium heat. (375º degrees F)
- In a bowl, mix butter, olive oil, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, black pepper, kosher salt, garlic powder and balsamic vinegar. Give it a thorough whisk.
- Use a basting brush included in your grill kit and apply the mix all over the asparagus.
- Use your cooking tongs to flip the asparagus on the foil and apply the mix on that side as well.
- Loosely pack the tin foil. You can add whole bulbs of garlic and lemon wedges before doing this to enhance the flavor.
- Once the internal temperature of your charcoal grill reaches 375º F, cook the asparagus for 5-8 minutes.
- Sprinkle parmesan cheese and serve with grilled zucchini or corn.
5. Best Grilled, Roasted, and Air Fryer Asparagus Recipes
Asparagus Rafts
What you need access to:
- Foil
- Grill Grate
- Grill Basket
- Skewers
- Grill Pan
- Charcoal Grill
Ingredients:
- 1 pound asparagus spears
- Garlic
- Garlic powder
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Lemon juice
- Lemon wedges
- Parmesan Cheese
- Butter
Steps:
- Heat charcoal grill on medium heat. (375º degrees F)
- Thread skewers into the asparagus spears evenly.
- In a bowl, mix garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper, lemon juice and parmesan cheese.
- Place asparagus on a sheet of foil and sprinkle the mix evenly.
- Loosely pack your asparagus rafts and place them on a grill basket or grill pan.
- Grill for 7 minutes – 3 minutes with the foil on and 4 minutes without the foil. Add lemon wedges and garlic bulbs to your grill to bring out the flavors.
- Use a basting brush to apply softened butter to the cooked asparagus.
- Sprinkle parmesan cheese and serve with a dip of your choice!
Roasted Asparagus
Ingredients:
- 1 pound asparagus spears (trimmed)
- Olive oil
- Parmesan cheese
- Kosher salt or sea salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Lemon juice
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425º degrees F.
- Layer 3 sheets of tin foil and fold the edges to create a make-shift bowl.
- On that sheet of foil, add asparagus spears and drizzle olive oil.
- Use your cooking tongs to give them a good mix.
- Sprinkle parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and lemon juice.
- Place foil with the asparagus in the oven and roast for 12-15 minutes.
- Add lemon juice and serve hot with a dip of your choice or with grilled salmon or on a veggie platter with grilled corn, and grilled zucchini.
Air Fryer Asparagus
Ingredients:
- Fresh asparagus (trimmed)
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Parmesan cheese
Steps:
- Set your air fryer to a temperature of 400º F.
- In a bowl, add fresh asparagus, garlic powder, black pepper, salt and parmesan cheese.
- Give them a good toss using a food tong.
- Once the asparagus is coated well with the seasonings, place it in the air fryer for 7 minutes.
- Once cooked, serve as it is or with a dip.
6. What To Serve With Grilled Asparagus
If you want your grilled asparagus to look like heaven on a plate, I suggest making a veggie platter with other grilled vegetables – It takes a simple recipe of grilled asparagus up a notch. Below are recipes for 3 incredible companions of this vegetable – Grilled salmon, grilled corn, and grilled zucchini.
Grilled Salmon
Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Butter
- Lemon Juice
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Lemon wedges
Steps:
- Take the salmon filet and place it on a cutting board. Use a tweezer to remove any tiny bones.
- Marinate salmon for 45 minutes with an easy mix of olive oil, lemon juice, butter, balsamic vinegar, black pepper, garlic powder, and salt.
- Use a basting brush to coat your fish filets with olive oil before placing them on the grill. This will make the skin juicy and crispy.
- Preheat the grill to a medium heat of 145º F and place salmon on the grill pan.
- Garnish with lemon wedges or lemon juice. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on the skin and serve with a delectable side of grilled asparagus.
Grilled Corn
Ingredients:
- Corn on the cob
- Butter
- Salt
- Parmesan cheese
Steps:
- Heat your charcoal grill to medium heat for 10 minutes.
- Add your corn and use food tongs to flip every 2 minutes.
- Use a basting brush to apply butter between the flips.
- When cooked, sprinkle salt, and parmesan cheese, and serve hot!
Grilled Zucchini
Ingredients:
- Zucchini (Halved)
- Olive oil
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Black pepper
Steps:
- Heat your charcoal grill to medium heat and oil the grill grate with olive oil.
- Drizzle olive oil and add salt and black pepper to each side of the zucchini.
- Grill for 4 minutes or until tender.
- Sprinkle parmesan cheese and serve on a veggie platter with grilled asparagus.
7. Nutrition Facts
- Asparagus is packed with over 11 nutrients including Vitamin A, C, E, and K, but is quite low in calories.
- Asparagus is packed with Iron and Zinc which makes it an excellent vegetable that you can incorporate into your diet.
- Asparagus is high in Folate – The nutrient that is vital for a healthy pregnancy and the body’s cell growth and DNA formation.
- Packed with antioxidants, asparagus can help bring down stress and chronic inflammation. It also helps keep cancer at bay.
- Since asparagus is high in fiber, it helps improve digestion.
8. Best Dalstrong Tools To Cook Asparagus
1. Serrated Chef's Knife 7.5" Shogun Series
Created to replicate culinary perfection, this chef’s knife has razor-sharp serrations along the blade for a clean and precise cut on vegetables like asparagus.
Pros:
- This serrated knife is made with premium quality Japanese steel for durability.
- The full tang on this knife helps trim asparagus to perfection.
Cons:
- Serrated knives are slightly difficult to sharpen but completely possible with a whetstone.
- If you’re looking for a slightly longer blade, I suggest this dual-sided chef’s knife instead.
2. Food Tongs 12 Scalloped Silicone Tips
Made with high carbon steel and a G10 grip, this food tong will make grilling seem like an easy process and can handle small and large vegetables.
Pros:
- It can be used to stir, flip, and stack vegetables and meat.
- The silicone around the handle prevents your hands from burning when at the grill.
Cons:
- If you’re on the lookout for slightly longer tongs for a larger grill, this may not be the best fit. Rest assured, it will keep you away from the flame.
- You might be looking for cooking tongs made completely with stainless steel.
3. Lionswood Colossal Teak Cutting Board
This cutting board is sturdy, tough, and perfect to trim your asparagus stalks, especially the thicker stalks. It can fit over a kitchen sink if you have limited kitchen space available.
Pros:
- Highly resistant to bacteria and water.
- Does not trap the strong aromatics of garlic and balsamic vinegar.
Cons:
- The higher price tag may not work for those on a budget.
- You may prefer a cutting board with a thinner width or a larger surface. I recommend this cutting board which is large in size.
4. Premium Grill Kit - 4 Piece
Designed for resilience and durability, this premium grill kit is resistant to water, stains, and heat. Equipped with G10 handles, it won’t disappoint the grill master in you.
Pros:
- Equipped with a silicone basting brush to enhance flavors, especially for cooked asparagus that is slightly dry.
- The serrations on the grill spatula are perfect to check the doneness of your food.
Cons:
- This grill kit may be expensive for those on a budget.
- You might prefer a spatula with additional slots to drain excessive oil.
5. 10" Frying Pan & Skillet Hammered Finish Black
This frying pan and skillet hybrid are made with 18/10 stainless steel for added durability. This 10” inch skillet can help you saute 1 pound asparagus with ease.
Pros:
- Offers excellent conductivity.
- Vented hole to prevent spills.
Cons:
- If you’re one for individual pieces of cookware, I suggest this skillet frying pan.
- There is a higher price tag for this hybrid.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
Should Asparagus Be Soaked Before Grilling?
Only the bottom of the asparagus should be soaked with cold water when storing the vegetable. You shouldn’t soak it before grilling.
How Do You Know When Asparagus Are Done?
The stalks become tender and have a charred brown color on them.
Why Is My Grilled Asparagus Soggy?
Your grilled asparagus could be soggy because you may be adding more olive oil than necessary. For instance, 1 pound of asparagus does not need more than 2 teaspoons of olive oil.
Is Grilled Asparagus Healthy?
Grilled asparagus is one of the most nutritious meals out there. It is high in antioxidants and rich in proteins, vitamins, and Folate.
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