is it spring yet???
Spring is right around the corner….wishes everyone living with snowy weather today! The birds have started to chirp outside my bedroom window at 4:30 am. I can also see parts of the backyard patio where the snow is starting to melt. All sure signs of what is coming our way! Asparagus is one of the first cooking rites of spring. To begin with, asparagus looks like spring with its gorgeous fresh green color with little hints of purple. It makes me hopeful for all of the treasures that are getting ready to peek out of the garden.
fresh asparagus
sweet chili sauce belongs on your next grocery list!!
I wanted to create an asparagus glaze that would be citrusy, and also have a little zing to surprise everyone! If you have not been using sweet chili sauce, this is a perfect time to give it a try. The sweet chili sauce is a surprisingly delicious way to flavor pop a recipe. This asparagus glaze begins with the predictable team of butter and fresh lemon juice. You could honestly stop right there and have delicious asparagus to enjoy, but why not shake things up a bit? I combined the sweet chili sauce and freshly grated ginger to add a spicy freshness to the glaze. One last tiny drop of honey to make everything blend together perfectly. A nod to the big honey bear that lives inside of me who LOVES honey!
asparagus with lemony sweet chili glaze
more cheese please!
The glaze takes only minutes to prepare while the asparagus is roasting away in the oven. The delectable aroma of the freshly squeezed lemon juice and zest along with the ginger will fill your kitchen with an irresistibly fresh smell. Throw a little extra cheese ( says everyone from WI always! ) on the asparagus near the end of roasting, and you will create little crispy parmesan nests that will be a perfect crunchy topping for the asparagus. I love having an easy glaze to prepare before a dinner party to keep my hands free to serve some more appetizers!
all ready for roasting!
Asparagus Drizzled With Lemony Sweet Chile Glaze
A lemony sweet chile glaze drizzled over freshly roasted asparagus hot from the oven…you will be tempted to nibble away on the way to serving platter!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: vegetable
- Method: oven and stove top
Ingredients
1 bunch of fresh asparagus
1/4 – 1/2 cup grated parmesan
olive oil for roasting asparagus
Glaze:
2 TB melted butter
2–3 TB sweet chili sauce
1 TB freshly grated ginger
2 TB fresh lemon juice
Grated zest from 1 lemon
1 tsp honey
salt and white pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees – you may also grill the asparagus if desired
Wash and snap off the bottom of the asparagus stalks
Arrange the asparagus on a sheet pan, leaving space between stalks
Drizzle with olive oil, salt and white pepper
Roast in the oven for 15-18 minutes
While asparagus is roasting, prepare the glaze
Glaze:
Melt the butter in a medium sized bowl in the microwave – you may also melt on stove top if desired
Remove from heat and add chili sauce, ginger, lemon juice/zest, honey
After 15 -18 minutes, remove asparagus from oven and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese
Return to the oven and cook for about 3 minutes or until cheese is melted
Remove from oven and transfer to serving platter and top with glaze
Top with remaining melted parmesan cheese crunchy bits
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