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A close-up of perfectly cooked Roasted Asparagus with Lemon, beautifully seasoned with parmesan and herbs on a white plate.
Reda

Perfectly Roasted Asparagus with Zesty Lemon

Elevate your weeknight meal with this simple yet elegant roasted asparagus. Tender-crisp spears tossed with olive oil, garlic, and bright lemon juice make for an irresistible side dish ready in under 20 minutes.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 90
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs Asparagus thin to medium spears, trimmed
  • 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 whole Lemon juiced and zested
  • 1/2 tsp Sea Salt or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp Black Pepper freshly ground, or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes optional, for a touch of heat

Equipment

  • Baking Sheet
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Tongs

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Prepare the asparagus by trimming the woody ends. You can snap them gently to find the natural breaking point or cut about an inch from the bottom.
Seasoning
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the trimmed asparagus, extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Toss everything thoroughly to ensure all asparagus spears are evenly coated. If you like a little heat, add the red pepper flakes now.
Roasting
  1. Spread the seasoned asparagus in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Make sure not to overcrowd the pan; this helps the asparagus roast rather than steam. Roast for 10-15 minutes, or until the asparagus is tender-crisp and slightly browned in spots. The exact roasting time will depend on the thickness of your asparagus spears.
Finishing and Serving
  1. Once removed from the oven, immediately transfer the roasted asparagus back to the large mixing bowl (or a serving platter). Drizzle with fresh lemon juice and sprinkle with lemon zest. Toss gently to distribute the lemon flavor.
  2. Serve the Perfectly Roasted Asparagus with Zesty Lemon warm as a vibrant and healthy side dish alongside your favorite main course.

Notes

For best results, choose asparagus spears of similar thickness to ensure even cooking. If you have a particularly large batch of asparagus, use two baking sheets or roast in two batches to avoid overcrowding, which can lead to steaming instead of roasting.