Grilled Asparagus Spears with Parmesan and Lemon
Follow these steps to grill fresh asparagus spears until tender-crisp, finishing them with bright lemon zest and salty Parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 7 min
- Total Time: 12 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound fresh asparagus spears, tough ends trimmed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (use finely grated)
- 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
Instructions
- Prepare your grill for medium-high heat, around 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly oil the grates.
- Place the trimmed asparagus spears in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
- Place the asparagus directly on the oiled grill grates, perpendicular to the grates to prevent falling through.
- Grill for 5 to 7 minutes, turning occasionally, until the asparagus is bright green and tender-crisp.
- Remove the asparagus from the grill and place it on a serving platter.
- Immediately sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the hot spears so it adheres slightly.
- Squeeze the fresh lemon juice over the asparagus. Sprinkle with lemon zest.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- For best results, use finely grated Parmesan cheese rather than thick shavings; this prevents the cheese from melting off or burning too quickly on the grill.
- If you prefer a softer texture, you can blanch the asparagus in boiling water for 2 minutes before oiling and grilling.
- If you do not have a grill basket, place the spears close together on the grates to minimize turning difficulty.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 105
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 310
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 7
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 6
- Cholesterol: 6