Charred Lemon & Parmesan Asparagus
Equipment
- Outdoor Grill Propane, Charcoal or whatever you've got.
- Grilling Basket
- High Temperature Oven Mitt
Ingredients
- 1 Bunch Thick asparagus spears (thick spears are better for grilling as they don't fall through the grill grates as easily)
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- ½ tsp Kosher Salt
- ½ tsp Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
- 1 Lemon You will use both the zest and a squeeze of juice
- ¼ Cup Parmesan cheese, shaved Use a vegetable peeler on a block of the parmesan to get those wide shavings seen in the image
Instructions
Prep the Asparagus
- Wash the spears and trim the woody ends using the technique below.
- Technique: Hold a spear at both ends and gently bend it until it snaps naturally. It will break exactly where the woody part ends and the tender part begins. Discard the woody bottoms.
Season
- Place the asparagus on a baking sheet or large plate. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper. Toss with your hands to coat every spear.
Grill It!
- Place the asparagus directly onto the grill grates perpendicular to the bars (so they don't fall through).
- Grill over medium-high heat (same temp as the chicken) for 4–6 minutes.
- Roll them occasionally so they cook evenly. You want them tender-crisp with visible black char marks.
Finish & Garnish
- Remove the asparagus from the grill and place onto your serving platter.
- Immediately squeeze a little fresh lemon juice over the hot spears.Using a microplane or zester, grate fresh lemon zest over the top.
- Finish by scattering the shaved parmesan over the asparagus. The heat from the vegetable will slightly soften the cheese without melting it completely.
- Chef's Tip:The Grill Basket: If your asparagus spears are very thin, or you are worried about dropping them into the fire, you can use a veggie grill basket. You won't get the same distinct grill lines, but the flavor will still be smoky and delicious. These are a must have for cooking veggies!