lemon roasted asparagus

lemon roasted asparagus.jpg

I have always had a hard time loving Asparagus, but have had a change of heart lately. This Lemon Roasted Asparagus is the perfect addition to an easy Brunch or Dinner. It is one of those veggies I forget to make often, but it is so easy and packed with nutrition. Did you know that 1 cup of Asparagus has 40 calories, 4 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, and 404 milligrams of potassium. It is a good source of vitamins A, C, E and K as well as chromium. This is all a really good thing and may be the best reason to start eating it more often!

I just love that it is not one of those veggies that you have to labor over to eat. No cutting and chopping and scrubbing off dirt. Simply run under cold water, chop off the ends, dry and season on a sheet pan. Yep, that's it...perfect side dish.

What you will need

  • 2 bunches asparagus

  • zest of 1 whole lemon

  • 2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil

  • sea salt

  • any desired spices (optional)

How to put it together

  • preheat oven to 400° F

  • clean asparagus and chop off bottom ends and dry

  • lay asparagus without over crowding on a parchment lined baking sheet

  • drizzle with EVOO, salt and lemon zest

  • place in oven for @15 minutes

I like my asparagus crunchy, so I don't let it cook for too long, but like that roasted flavor. Using a high cooking temperature will give you this result and will also crisp up the lemon zest, which I love.