Preheat the
oven to 350 degrees. Wrap the asparagus tightly in aluminum foil and top
with the oil or butter. (You can also grease a large, shallow roasting
pan, add the asparagus, and cover with aluminum foil.) Roast the
asparagus until they are tender but not falling apart, 12-25 minutes,
depending on the thickness of the asparagus. Remember that the asparagus
will continue to cook for a few minutes after they have been removed
from the oven. Discard the foil before serving.
Makes 4
servings
When you
roast asparagus instead of steaming or boiling them, they retain all
their vitamins, color and flavor; nothing is lost in the cooking
process. Roasted asparagus also have an intriguing smoky flavor that
complements seafood dishes, especially salmon. Serve these asparagus
with lemon wedges or accompany them with a hollandaise sauce, Green
sauce, or Roasted Pepper Aioli. They make a spectacular cold salad
served with 1 cup of Chinese sesame chile lemon dipping sauce.
