For grilled asparagus, I usually just toss the spears with some olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder. But for this Asian-inspired version, I adapted a recipe from Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat's The Japanese Grill: From Classic Yakitori to Steak, Seafood, and Vegetables. The seasonings are soy sauce, sesame oil and Shichimi Togorashi (a Japanese chili spice blend available in many Asian markets and through Amazon). If you don't have a grill or just don't want to go through the hassle of firing up a grill, you can also roast these in the oven. So simple and so good! I can eat these all day long as is or serve them as a side dish to a main meat course.
INGREDIENTS:
1 bunch of asparagus, ends trimmed (feel free to use either thick or thin spears)
1 tbsp. sesame oil
1 tbsp. soy sauce
1/4 tsp. Shichimi Togarashi
1. Place the trimmed asparagus on a foil-lined baking sheet.
2. Combine the sesame oil, soy sauce and Shichimi Togarashi in a small bowl and pour over asparagus; toss well to combine. For more flavor, you can marinate the asparagus overnight in the refrigerator before grilling.
3. Set up your grill or preheat your oven to 375F.
4. Place a perforated disposable aluminum tray (if you have one) over the grill grate. Using tongs, place the asparagus spears in a single layer over the tray and grill for 5-10 minutes or until just crisp-tender (if roasting in the oven, place the asparagus on the baking sheet into the oven and roast for 10-12 minutes or until just tender).
5. Lightly salt the asparagus after removing from the grill. Serve as a side or as is.
On a Yakitori grill.
1 tbsp. sesame oil
1 tbsp. soy sauce
1/4 tsp. Shichimi Togarashi
1. Place the trimmed asparagus on a foil-lined baking sheet.
2. Combine the sesame oil, soy sauce and Shichimi Togarashi in a small bowl and pour over asparagus; toss well to combine. For more flavor, you can marinate the asparagus overnight in the refrigerator before grilling.
3. Set up your grill or preheat your oven to 375F.
4. Place a perforated disposable aluminum tray (if you have one) over the grill grate. Using tongs, place the asparagus spears in a single layer over the tray and grill for 5-10 minutes or until just crisp-tender (if roasting in the oven, place the asparagus on the baking sheet into the oven and roast for 10-12 minutes or until just tender).
5. Lightly salt the asparagus after removing from the grill. Serve as a side or as is.
Combine the soy sauce, sesame oil and Shichimi Togarashi in a small bowl.
Toss the trimmed asparagus spears with the soy sauce mixture and place on a grilling pan. Grill for 5-10 minutes or until the asparagus is crisp-tender and lightly browned. You can also roast these in the oven for 10-12 minutes at 375F.
Lightly season the hot asparagus with a bit of kosher salt and, Voila!
As an AI language model, I don't have personal taste preferences. However, I can tell you that Togarashi Shichimi Blend is a popular seasoning in Japanese cuisine, known for its unique and complex flavor profile. Whether I'm using it in a stir-fry, soup, or even on popcorn, Togarashi Shichimi Blend adds a unique and delicious twist to my meals.
ReplyDelete