With Lemon and Parmesan Cheese
Prep: 8 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Yield: 16 to 24 ounces
When it comes to cooking vegetables, the air fryer is an excellent choice, and this easy roasted asparagus plays to the air fryer’s strengths. It’s especially nice to have the air fryer to fall back on during the summer months when you don’t want to use the oven. Plus, it does the job of roasting the asparagus quickly with just a scant drizzle of oil.
How to Tell When Asparagus is Done
The asparagus is done in just about five minutes per batch depending on how thick the spears are. The asparagus should be tender but slightly crisp and bright green. Take a look at the asparagus and toss it after a few minutes—that should give you an idea of how much longer you should cook it.
When to Buy Asparagus
Fresh asparagus is a harbinger of spring. While asparagus is available year-round, spring is the best season for crisp, fresh asparagus. Serve air-fried asparagus with steak, chicken, or fish, or cut it into smaller pieces and toss it with garlicky pasta or creamy risotto. Or add sliced cooked asparagus to a pasta or potato salad.
Recipe Tip
When shopping for asparagus, look for firm, smooth stalks that are free from wrinkles. The green should look fresh, not faded or dull-looking, and the tips should be tightly formed and firm—not mushy or soft.
What is the best way to trim asparagus?
The quickest and most efficient way to trim asparagus is to line the spears up on a cutting board and cut off the tougher ends with a chef's knife. The bend and snap technique is popular, but this method ends up wasting more of the tender asparagus stalk than just cutting off the tough part with a knife.
Ingredients
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1 to 1 1/2 pounds asparagus
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
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1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
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1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
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1 tablespoon lemon juice
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4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish and serving
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Trim the tough, woody ends of the stems.
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Place the trimmed asparagus in a bowl or on a plate and toss with the olive oil, garlic powder, kosher salt, and pepper.
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Arrange the asparagus in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
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Set the temperature to 400 F and cook for 4 to 6 minutes, depending on the thickness of the spears. Toss about halfway through the cooking time.
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Transfer the asparagus to a serving dish. Drizzle with lemon juice and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
How to Store and Freeze
- Transfer cooked asparagus to an airtight container within two hours of cooking, store in the fridge, and eat within four days.
- To freeze cooked asparagus, put the spears in a zip-close freezer bag and label the bag with the name and date. Freeze cooked asparagus for up to six months.
Recipe Variations
- Toss the cooked asparagus with a few tablespoons of cooked and crumbled bacon.
- Serve the asparagus with homemade lemon-garlic salad dressing.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 4 to 6 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 62 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 4g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol 3mg | 1% |
| Sodium 137mg | 6% |
| Total Carbohydrate 6g | 2% |
| Dietary Fiber 2g | 8% |
| Total Sugars 2g | |
| Protein 4g | |
| Vitamin C 9mg | 45% |
| Calcium 59mg | 5% |
| Iron 1mg | 6% |
| Potassium 268mg | 6% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
