Hoisin Roasted Asparagus

 

Spring means fresh Asparagus. We have been trying various recipes. We liked Hoisin Roasted Asparagus. It was a perfect complement to go with our leftover Chinese Food. It was very easy to make. Will make this simple recipe again.

Hoisin Roasted Asparagus

The Omnivore’s Cookbook

 

In this recipe, you just need two ingredients – olive oil and hoisin sauce. Simply toss the asparagus in them and throw them over direct fire. The asparagus will be charred beautifully and become tender in texture, slightly sweet, and extra flavorful. Of course you can cook this dish in the oven, too. We love serving this dish as a side for dinner because it takes just eight minutes to cook in the oven. I include both methods in the recipe.

 

Ingredients

 

1       pound asparagus , tough ends removed (*see footnote)

1       tablespoon olive oil

2       tablespoons hoisin sauce (or gluten-free hoisin sauce for a GF version)

 

Instructions

 

1.            Preheat oven to 230 degrees C (450 F).

2.            Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spread asparagus and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat well.

3.            Add hoisin sauce. Toss again to cover asparagus evenly with the sauce. Arrange asparagus so that the thicker stems are near the rim of the baking sheet. Leave some space between the asparagus spears, so they will crisp up, not become steamed.

4.            Bake for 5 minutes. The asparagus should be almost cooked through, but still a bit chewy. If you’re using thicker asparagus, you might need to add another minute or two. Toss again and return the tray to the oven. Turn on broiler and cook for another 2 minutes, or until the sauce is slightly caramelized. You should watch it closely after turning on the boiler. When the asparagus is done, transfer the it to a serving tray immediately so that it stops cooking.

5.            This recipe can be used on the grill, too. To grill asparagus, build a moderate two-zone fire and place asparagus over direct fire. Flip every minute, until the asparagus is cooked through. If the asparagus gets charred too quickly (mostly likely if you’re using thicker asparagus spears), move them to the indirect fire and grill until they cook through.

6.            Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

 

Try to select thin asparagus spears. They coat with hoisin sauce better and will be more flavorful.