Roasted Asparagus with Salsa Verde
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 2 to 3 servings
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 4 servings
- Calories
- 236
- Total Fat
- 21
- Saturated Fat
- 3
- Carbohydrates
- 11
- Dietary Fiber
- 3
- Sugar
- 6
- Protein
- 4
- Cholesterol
- 1
- Sodium
- 343
- Total: 25 min
- Active: 25 min
Ingredients
1 large bunch thin "pencil" asparagus
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons grainy mustard
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 lemon
1 small clove garlic
2 small anchovy fillets in oil plus 1 scant tablespoon anchovy oil
12 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley
10 to 12 fresh mint leaves
8 sprigs fresh tarragon
1 medium dill pickle plus 1 tablespoon pickle brine
2 to 3 teaspoons honey
Directions
- Arrange an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Trim about 1 inch off the bottom of the asparagus and discard. Arrange the asparagus in a single layer on the baking sheet and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Place the baking sheet in the center of the oven and roast until slightly tender and lightly browned, 5 to 8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add the mustard and vinegar to a medium blow. Grate the zest of the lemon into the bowl and squeeze in the juice. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil. Mince the garlic and add to the bowl. Mince the anchovies and add to the bowl along with the anchovy oil. Finely chop the parsley, including the stems, and add to the bowl. Chop the mint leaves and add to the bowl. Cut off and discard the woody bottoms of the tarragon. Chop the remaining tarragon and add to the bowl. Chop the pickle and add to the bowl along with the pickle brine. Mix together with a spoon and taste for seasoning. Refrigerate if not using immediately.
- Season the asparagus with salt and drizzle with the honey. Spoon some of the salsa verde over the asparagus and transfer to a platter. Top with additional salsa verde.
Cook’s Note
What does good asparagus look like? Look for firm, clean, straight stalks. Wobbly stalks and discolored ends are telltale signs that they are not fresh. Use a sharp knife to trim only the very bottom from the stalk; breaking it off causes more of the bottom to go to waste. Thinner "pencil" asparagus are too thin to peel. For larger asparagus, I peel them (because the outer skin can be tough) and leave the top two inches intact. Not planning to use them right away? Fresh asparagus should be kept refrigerated. Placing the stalks upright in a little bit of water (as you would a bouquet of flowers, for example) can extend its shelf life. I love asparagus steamed or roasted, with a simple salsa verde. Make the salsa the night before, for best results.