Grilled Asparagus Gets Dressed Up
Lucky for us, asparagus season syncs up with the start of the grilling season. To celebrate this wonderful coincidence, we eat asparagus almost nightly during the summer. It’s easy enough to grill a bunch of asparagus, and we like to dress it up with a drizzle of balsamic reduction and a handful of toasted pine nuts and parmesan cheese. Serve this grilled asparagus dish with a Grilled Rib Eye Steak, Spatchcocked Grilled Chicken, or even a big filet of Blackened Salmon.
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How To Make Asparagus Crispy on the Grill
There are several recipes out there that suggest wrapping your asparagus in foil before placing it on the grill, but beware. This method traps in the steam released by the water in the asparagus and will NOT result in the crispy texture you desire. Instead, we recommend placing it directly on the grill over high heat. It’s okay to let the flames char the edges a little black is a good thing. Just be sure you don’t overcook it!
How Long Does it Take to Cook Asparagus on the Grill?
Asparagus should never be cooked for long. Even when cooked in the oven on a baking sheet, it only needs about eight minutes, unless you have some of the larger 1-inch thick spears. They may need a minute or two longer. Cooking the asparagus longer than eight minutes or so results in an unappetizing texture. Our tips for cooking asparagus on the grill:
Cook asparagus over a nice high heat on a preheated grill, the spears only need to cook for a couple of minutes—maybe three at the most.
Rotate the spears using tongs and cook them for another two to three minutes. Quick, right? The main thing is to keep an eye on it as it grills—it’ll cook fast, so just stay with it.
How To Make Balsamic Glaze
Balsamic glaze is simply balsamic vinegar that’s been simmered gently until it reduces to a thick syrup. This process cuts the acidic flavor of the vinegar and allows the natural sweetness of balsamic to shine through. Our balsamic glaze recipe enhances that sweetness even further with a bit of honey. If you are trying to cut corners, you can go ahead and buy premade balsamic reduction—also known as balsamic glaze—which is available at most grocery stores.
How to Store Grilled Asparagus + Tips
Grilled asparagus will last in the refrigerator for a few days. Grilled asparagus will also freeze well, if you happen to have any leftovers!!
Our summer season features a lot of strawberry ice cream, topped with freshly picked strawberries and a drizzle of leftover balsamic glaze.
Leftover balsamic glaze can also be drizzled on Chicken Caprese or our favorite Caprese Salad.
Use leftover asparagus in our recipe for Pasta al Limone with Asparagus (leftover pine nuts and balsamic glaze welcome too!).
Summer’s Best Asparagus Recipes
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