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    Home » Sides

    Grilled Asparagus

    Published: May 18, 2022 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    Smokey, tender-crisp, bright-green, juicy grilled asparagus is one of the best ways to enjoy this delicious, flavorful vegetable.

    You can make this easy grilled asparagus recipe on the stovetop on a grill pan or an actual grill. All you need is fresh asparagus, oil, salt, black pepper, and lemon wedges.

    grilled asparagus with olive oil and lemon
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • More Asparagus Recipes
    • Questions
    • Storage
    • Recipe

    Check out our Guide to Cook Asparagus

    Asparagus is a versatile vegetable as it can be cooked in many different ways. From steamed to sauteed, from boiled to air-fried, we are big fans of this delicious spring vegetable.

    And while we love asparagus in all these different ways, grilled asparagus is special. The charred, smoky flavor makes it even more delectable, and you can only get that by grilling it at high temperatures.

    To prevent asparagus spears from burning too fast, coat them in olive oil. Add a pinch of salt to bring out their taste even more and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to make the flavor pop. Get ready to make a double batch cause you won't be able to stop eating them.

    This simple grilled asparagus recipe is the perfect side dish for any of your favorite dinners, and we are sure that everyone at your table will take seconds.

    grilled asparagus on grill pan

    Ingredients

    Asparagus: use fresh asparagus for best results. I like to grill thick asparagus spears; they are meatier. Both farmed asparagus and wild asparagus are great for grilling.

    Olive oil: we recommend using extra virgin olive oil if you can. EV Olive Oil has more antioxidants than regular olive oil. The antioxidants make it more stable at high temperatures, making extra virgin olive oil suitable for grilling.

    Salt and pepper: use to season the asparagus before grilling them. Sea salt and kosher salt are the best for grilling.

    Lemon juice: add a squeeze of lemon juice on top of the grilled asparagus just before serving them. The acidity of the lemon is a flavor booster.

    Fresh herbs: (optional) mint, chives, dill, basil, and especially flat-leaf Italian parsley go extremely well with grilled asparagus. Pick your favorite, finely chop it, and sprinkle it on top.

    Instructions

    Preheat the grill pan on medium-high heat for 3 minutes, or if you use a grill, preheat to medium heat (around 370°F or 190°C) and brush the grill grates clean.

    In the meantime, rinse and trim the woody ends of the asparagus with a sharp knife or snap ends with your hands.

    trimming ends of asparagus

    Transfer to a dish and season with olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Toss with your hands to coat evenly in oil.

    seasoning asparagus spears with olive oil, salt and pepper

    When the grill pan is hot, arrange the asparagus on it and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how thick the asparagus stalks are. The ones in the picture took exactly 10 minutes. Turn the asparagus with tongs a few times.

    Note: you can put fresh asparagus directly on the grill. There's no need to wrap them in foil.

    Tip: if you use a grill, arrange the asparagus perpendicular to the grill bars. You can also use a grill basket to keep them together.

    asparagus arranged on a grill pan

    The asparagus is cooked when tender on the inside, with still some bite and with char marks on the surface. To check doneness, poke it with a fork. If it slides in easily, the asparagus is ready. It should be fork-tender but not mushy.

    grilled asparagus

    Serving Suggestions

    Lemon and Herbs

    The simplest way to serve grilled asparagus is to add a squeeze of lemon juice. Good quality balsamic vinegar is also a good option.

    Fresh herbs such as flat-leaf parsley and basil are also delicious with asparagus. Finely chop them and sprinkle them on top.

    Nuts like pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are also delicious. Lightly toast them and sprinkle them on top.

    grilled asparagus and lemon

    Butter and Lemon

    To add a little more oomph (and calories) to this side dish, you could use some butter or vegan butter. Add a teaspoon or two of vegan butter onto the asparagus. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon, and sprinkle with finely chopped flat-leaf parsley. Smokey, crunchy, velvety, and citrusy. Irresistible.

    Mustard Vinaigrette

    This is our vegan version of honey-mustard vinaigrette. Make it with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, 1 teaspoon of mustard, ½ teaspoon of salt, a few twists of black pepper, and some grated garlic (or garlic powder). Whisk well and serve alongside the grilled asparagus for people to drizzle on top.

    This vinaigrette adds a lot of flavor to this simple recipe. It's tangy, zesty, a little sweet, and sour. It's delicious with grilled asparagus.

    Add other grilled veggies.

    Other veggies that cook at about the same time as asparagus are sliced zucchini, corn, sliced eggplant, chopped bell peppers, and mushrooms. Even grilled tofu is delicious with it. In this case, our advice is to coat it in our tofu marinade before grilling it.

    More Asparagus Recipes

    If you like asparagus, check out our other recipes:

    • air fryer asparagus - one of our favorite ways to eat asparagus
    • tofu soup with asparagus - incredibly simple and satisfying
    • steamed asparagus - healthy, tender-crisp, and incredibly juicy

    Questions

    Should asparagus be soaked before grilling?

    No. There is no need to soak asparagus before grilling. All you have to do is rinse them and season them with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

    How long should you grill asparagus?

    Grill asparagus for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how thick the asparagus stalks are.

    How long does it take to cook asparagus on the grill in foil?

    Cooking asparagus on the grill in foil takes between 10 to 15 minutes. Season the asparagus with olive oil, salt, and black pepper, and wrap them in aluminum. Each packet with 5 to 8 asparagus. Place foil packets on the hot grill, turning once halfway through.

    How do you marinate asparagus before grilling?

    There's no need to marinate asparagus before grilling. Simply season them with olive oil, salt, and black pepper, and grill.

    How do you make asparagus crispy on the grill?

    The secret to crispy grilled asparagus is 1) Coat them in olive oil before grilling. 2) Preheat the grill to medium-high at about 370°F or 190°C. 3) Do not overcook them.

    Storage

    Store grilled asparagus in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in microwave. They won't be as crunchy on the second day. We do not recommend freezing them.

    For many more side dishes ideas, check out our sides category page.

    Recipe

    grilled asparagus

    Grilled Asparagus

    Author: Nico
    Smokey, tender-crisp, bright-green, juicy grilled asparagus is one of the best ways to enjoy this delicious, flavorful vegetable.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time 3 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 13 mins
    Course Side dish
    Cuisine International
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 39 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 16 ounces (1 lb) asparagus
    • ½ tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 twists black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the grill pan on medium-high heat for 3 minutes or if you use a grill, preheat to medium heat (that's around 370°F or 190°C) and brush the grill grates clean.
      In the meantime, rinse and trim the woody ends of the asparagus with a sharp knife, or snap ends with your hands.
      trimming ends of asparagus
    • Transfer to a dish and season with olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Toss with your hands to coat evenly in oil.
      seasoning asparagus spears with olive oil, salt and pepper
    • When the grill pan is hot, arrange the asparagus on it and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how thick the asparagus stalks are. The ones in the picture took exactly 10 minutes. Turn the asparagus with tongs a few times.
      Tip: if you use a grill, arrange the asparagus perpendicular to the grill bars. You can also use a grill basket to keep them together.
      asparagus arranged on a grill pan
    • The asparagus are cooked when tender on the inside, with still some bite and with char marks on the surface. To check doneness, poke them with fork. If it slides in easily, the asparagus are ready.
      They should be fork tender, but not mushy. See notes below for serving suggestions.
      grilled asparagus

    Notes

    SERVING SUGGESTIONS

    LEMON AND HERBS
    The simplest way to serve grilled asparagus is to add a squeeze of lemon juice. Good quality balsamic vinegar is also a good option.
    Fresh herbs such as flat-leaf parsley and basil are also delicious with asparagus. Finely chop them and sprinkle them on top.
    Nuts like pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are delicious with it too. Lightly toast them and sprinkle them on top.
    BUTTER AND LEMON
    To add a little more oomph (and calories) to this side dish, you could use some butter or vegan butter. Add a teaspoon or two of vegan butter onto the asparagus. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon, and sprinkle with finely chopped flat-leaf parsley. Smokey, crunchy, velvety, and citrusy. Irresistible.
    MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE
    This is our vegan version of honey-mustard vinaigrette. Make it with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, 1 teaspoon of mustard, ½ teaspoon of salt, a few twists of black pepper, and some grated garlic (or garlic powder). Whisk well and serve alongside the grilled asparagus for people to drizzle on top.
    This vinaigrette adds a lot of flavor to this simple recipe. It's tangy, zesty, a little sweet, and sour. It's delicious with grilled asparagus.
    ADD OTHER VEGGIES
    Other veggies that cook at about the same time as asparagus are sliced zucchini, corn, sliced eggplant, chopped bell peppers, and mushrooms. Even grilled tofu is delicious with it. In this case, our advice is to coat it in our tofu marinade before grilling it.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Grilled Asparagus
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 39 Calories from Fat 18
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 2g3%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 1g
    Cholesterol 0mg0%
    Potassium 236mg7%
    Carbohydrates 5g2%
    Dietary Fiber 3g13%
    Sugar 2g2%
    Protein 3g6%
    Vitamin A 860IU17%
    Vitamin B6 1mg50%
    Vitamin C 6mg7%
    Vitamin E 2mg13%
    Vitamin K 49µg47%
    Calcium 30mg3%
    Folate 59µg15%
    Iron 2mg11%
    Manganese 1mg50%
    Magnesium 17mg4%
    Zinc 1mg7%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

    If you liked this recipe, you might also like:

    • Vegan salads with fresh herbs and legumes
      25 Vegan Salad Recipes
    • Vegan Pasta Recipes such as pomodoro and vegan carbonara
      40 Vegan Pasta Recipes
    • Easy dinners pasta and stuffed veggies
      40 easy dinners
    « Vegan Cauliflower Recipes
    Boiled Asparagus »

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    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

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