This simple 3-ingredient roasted sesame Asian asparagus recipe is a quick and easy weeknight side dish, yet still impressive enough to serve at a more upscale gathering!
I have to say, this easy roasted sesame asparagus recipe is hands down my favorite way to cook asparagus! The thing about asparagus, though, is that when it's not in season, it can get quite pricey. My kids adore it though (really!), so it's worth a splurge now and then...
But come springtime when asparagus is plentiful and inexpensive, we indulge weekly. The simplicity and flavor make this simple side dish perfect for weeknights, but it's also right at home on any holiday or party menu.
But I Didn't Always Like Asparagus...
Just like tomato soup, asparagus was one of those foods that I despised as a child. So I'm sure you can imagine my reaction as an 8-year-old when my grandmother bought our family a CASE of canned asparagus from Sam's Club for Christmas... Truly, I'm not joking. What kid wants asparagus for Christmas?!
God love her - she felt like we weren't getting our recommended daily vitamins and minerals, so she did what any concerned grandmother would do... Okay, maybe not every grandma, but I know she had good intentions. Seriously, though, it was all I could do to choke down those slimy green spears without gagging. I may have even resorted to excusing myself from the table to "use the bathroom", i.e., spit them into the toilet.
3-Ingredient Roasted Sesame Asparagus Recipe
Thankfully I gave asparagus another go as I got older, and I found that fresh roasted asparagus is absolutely delightful! And not only is it tasty, but it's super easy to prepare - especially this amazing 3-ingredient asparagus recipe.
When you're ready to cook your asparagus, rinse it well and pat each spear dry. For thicker asparagus stalks, you'll want to trim off the fibrous ends.
The easiest way to figure out where you should trim is to pick up a thicker spear and bend it until it breaks. It will naturally break where the stalk gets more tender, and then you can use that stalk as a guideline for trimming the other spears in the bunch.
Lay the spears out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Drizzle them with about two tablespoons of olive oil, and then sprinkle with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Roast for about 10 minutes at 450 degrees, then give the sheet a good shake and sprinkle about a teaspoon of sesame seeds over the spears. Roast for another five minutes.
It really doesn't get much simpler than that! This roasted asparagus recipe pairs perfectly with chicken, pork, steak, and so on. Oh, and it's pretty darn good cold too - if there are any leftovers after dinner, we end up nibbling on them for the rest of the evening.
Printable Recipe ↓
Sesame Roasted Asian Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 bunch asparagus - trimmed
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- kosher salt - to taste
- freshly ground black pepper - to taste
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Lay washed and trimmed asparagus spears out in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Drizzle with approximately 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and sprinkle with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
- Roast at 450 degrees for about 10 minutes.
- Shake the baking sheet to turn the asparagus and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds. Roast for an additional 5 minutes until tender.
Printable Recipe ↓
Sesame Roasted Asian Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 bunch asparagus - trimmed
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- kosher salt - to taste
- freshly ground black pepper - to taste
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Lay washed and trimmed asparagus spears out in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Drizzle with approximately 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and sprinkle with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
- Roast at 450 degrees for about 10 minutes.
- Shake the baking sheet to turn the asparagus and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds. Roast for an additional 5 minutes until tender.
More Roasted Veggie Side Dish Recipes
If you like this roasted sesame asparagus recipe, you might also enjoy these other delicious roasted veggie side dish recipes:
- Honey Roasted Carrots with Dill - this easy recipe for roasted carrots is sure to get the whole family to eat their veggies! Just 4 simple ingredients: brown butter, carrots (of course!!), honey, and dried dill…
- Crispy Roasted Garlic Ranch Potatoes - these easy ranch roasted potatoes are totally one of my favorite roasted potato recipes… Crispy and seasoned to perfection with garlic and ranch seasoning!
- 20-Minute Cheesy Broccoli Gratin - this quick and easy crispy cheesy broccoli au gratin features crispy, caramelized broccoli florets topped with a panko cheddar Parmesan mixture that's out of this world… Have it on your dinner table in under 20 minutes!
- 5-Ingredient Roasted Cauliflower - this smoky garlic Parmesan roasted cauliflower recipe is packed with the bold flavors of smoked paprika, garlic, and shaved aged Parmesan cheese. It's the perfect easy side dish for any entree!
Did you make this recipe?
I'd love to see how your roasted asparagus turns out... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!
Becky says
I made these last week for dinner, so simple, but delicious! Even my 4 yr old ate 4 spears! I shared your link on my blog. Thanks!
https://rookietorockstar.blogspot.com/2012/12/monday-plannin-mondays.html
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Thanks for sharing, Becky! That butternut squash soup looks amazing — and I happen to have a few squash left from our last CSA delivery of the year...
Shari-Tickled Red says
We adore asparagus! Scrumptious and oh so good for you. Great tips and recipe darlin' :D
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
Roasting is my favorite way to eat asparagus. Love this with the sesame seeds!
JulieD says
Tara, I love roasted asparagus! I love that your recipe includes sesame seeds, I will try your recipe the next time I get some fresh asparagus!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
Asparagus is probably the very favorite veggie at our house and I really want to add this to our Thanksgiving menu!
Sheila Krygsheld says
I use fresh grated parmesan, too!
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Yes! A little fresh parm is always delicious too — or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Great variations!
Sandy @ RE says
Love asparagus any time of year. Perfect side dish for TG this year! :)
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says
Roasted asparagus is one of our favorite veggies!
Elizabeth@ Food Ramblings says
yum! looks amazing!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
We eat roasted asparagus almost every week! So good. :)
Paula - bell'alimento says
Asparagus is one of my all time favorites! Love it roasted.
Cassie | Bake Your Day says
I adore roasted asparagus...one of my favorite veggies of all time!