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    Home » Recipes » Side dish

    Easy Vegan Roasted Asparagus Recipe

    Published: Apr 16, 2023 by Marinela


    Jump to Recipe

    Vegan roasted asparagus recipe is the best springtime side dish that perfectly completes any meal. The mix of extra virgin olive oil, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and sesame seeds will give this quick and easy side a distinctive but subtle taste and a bit of heat.

    Drizzle with fresh lemon juice to add a touch of zing and brightness.

    Baked asparagus is our favorite way to prepare this healthy green vegetable. I hope you'll love it, too.

    Healthy vegan oven-roasted asparagus on white plate sprinkled with red pepper flakes and drizzled freshly squeezed lemon juice and wooden fork on white table

    Colorful veggies are a great way to add nutrition and vibrance to your meals. From Crispy Baby Potatoes, Strawberry Spinach Salad, creamy Red Cabbage Soup, and filling Pasta Salad to Roasted Broccoli, you can surely increase your daily intake of wholesome greens in a delicious way.

    Refresh your rotation with this simple oven-roasted asparagus recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How To Cook Asparagus In The Oven
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • How To Store
    • How To Roast Asparagus Tips
    • FAQ
    • What To Serve With Roasted Asparagus
    • More Easy Side Dish Ideas
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Food safety
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients

    You'll need a few plant-based ingredients to make this asparagus side:

    Simple ingredients for cooking oven-roasted asparagus recipe: fersh asparagus stalks, extra virgin olive oil, salt, spices, red pepper flakes and freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • Asparagus (look for a fresh, firm bunch of asparagus with closed compact tips)
    • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    • Garlic Powder
    • Black Pepper (freshly ground)
    • Salt
    • Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
    • Sesame Seeds (optional)
    • Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice (optional)

    As always, you can find the full recipe with a list of ingredients with measurements in a printable recipe card at the end of this post.

    How To Cook Asparagus In The Oven

    The easiest way to prepare asparagus is to roast it in the oven. Here is a step by step instructions on how to cook it:

    Fresh asparagus stalks on wooden cutting board with sliced bottom parts

    Prepare asparagus. First, preheat the oven to 428°F / 220°C and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

    Rinse the asparagus under cold tap water. Dry it out with a clean kitchen towel. Then, with a knife slice off the tough bottom parts of the entire bunch of asparagus at once. Alternatively, you can bend and break each stalk individually with your hands.

    Fresh asparagus in baking sheet lined with parchment papper coated with extra virgin olive oil, salt and seasonings sprinkled with sesame seeds prepared for roasting in the oven

    Season and roast. Transfer the asparagus to the prepared baking pan, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, and season with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and garlic powder.

    Arrange asparagus in one layer in the pan. For an enhanced nutty flavor and crunchy texture sprinkle generously with sesame seeds.

    Roast for about 15 minutes or until it's lightly browned and crisp-tender. Very thin asparagus is done in 10-12 minutes, thicker asparagus will need 15-16 minutes. Roasting time will depend on the thickness of the asparagus spears.

    Oven baked asparagus in white plate drizzled with vegan sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds and red pepper flakes

    Serve. Serve while warm with a drizzle of freshly squeezed lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, or vegan sauce. Sprinkle with a pinch of red pepper flakes foto add a little heat if you like.

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Olive oil - instead of olive oil you can use any neutral oil like canola oil or sunflower oil.
    • Piquant - add a pinch of red pepper flakes to add a touch of heat and color to your dish.
    • Cheesy - sprinkle with finely grated vegan parmesan during the last few minutes of cooking or top it with Homemade Parmesan just before serving.
    • Herby & Spicy - add your favorite herbs or spices like dried basil, rosemary, oregano, smoked paprika, or cumin to bring out a new level of deliciousness.
    A close-up of charred asparagus stalks with sesame seeds sprinkled with red pepper flakes and sliced lemon on white dish

    How To Store

    Baked asparagus tastes best the day it is cooked. However, if you have leftovers you can store them wrapped in aluminum foil or in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat before serving.

    How To Roast Asparagus Tips

    1. Dry completely after washing. Be sure to pat dry your asparagus before cooking it to ensure a tender-crispy texture with a smoky taste.
    2. Don't crowd the pan. Arrange your asparagus in a single layer thus giving it space to brown and roast properly. If you have a large number of asparagus stalks to roast simply use two pans or bake in batches. An overcrowded pan will result in steamed asparagus.
    3. Don't use too much oil. Use just enough oil to lightly coat the stalks on all sides. It helps to achieve that nice charred tips with a rich, toasty flavor.
    4. Don't overcook. Cook until spears are starting to brown and are easily pierced with a fork. Smaller pieces will roast quickly while thicker ones will take longer to cook usually 15-16 minutes.
    Asparagus side dish sprinkled with sesame seeds and red pepper flakes and drizzled with freshly squeezed lemon juice

    FAQ

    How to trim asparagus

    On a wooden cutting board, line up all stalks in a row and slice off the tough pale bottom parts (about 1-2 inches off). Instead of trimming, you can gently bend and break each stalk individually. Nevertheless, depending on the freshness and thickness of the asparagus you can end with many unused edible parts if you use the second method.

    Why is my roasted asparagus mushy

    If your asparagus turns out mushy you've probably overcooked it. Thin pencil-like asparagus stalks need 10-12 minutes of roasting time while thicker stalks 15-16 minutes.

    Should you parboil or blanch asparagus before roasting

    No, it's not necessary to parboil or blanch asparagus spears before roasting.

    Should I soak asparagus before roasting

    It's a completely optional step because you can clean it by rinsing it thoroughly under running water to get rid of any dirt or grit.

    Is roasted asparagus healthy

    Yes, this low-calorie vegetable that's packed with essential micronutrients is good for you and can be a healthy addition to your diet. Even though cooking may slightly decrease its nutrient level it actually increases its antioxidant activity, as well.

    Asparagus stalks roasted in the oven with sesame seeds and sprinkled with red pepper flakes and fresh lemon slices

    What To Serve With Roasted Asparagus

    Asparagus is so versatile it goes well with a variety of dishes such as:

    • Butter lettuce salad recipe with vinaigrette and radishes, cucumber, spring onions
      Perfect Butter Lettuce Salad (Fresh & Healthy)
    • Creamy homemade vegan queso dip in a bowl with corn chips
      Best Vegan Queso Dip Recipe (Dairy-Free)
    • Cucumber vinegar salad recipe with red onion and sesame seeds. Easy vegan side dish.
      Cucumber Vinegar Salad Recipe (Weight-Loss Side Dish)
    • Vegan ranch dressing recipe (no mayo, oil-free). Creamy dairy-free dip in a small jar with fresh chopped vegetables.
      Creamy Vegan Ranch Dressing Recipe (No Mayo, Oil-Free Dip)

    More Easy Side Dish Ideas

    • Recipe for roasted baby potatoes in oven. Easy and healthy side dish for dinner or lunch. Easy and healthy light, plant based meal prep.
      Best Recipe for Roasted Baby Potatoes (Easy Side Dish)
    • Best recipe for potato latkes without eggs or matzo meal. Easy, gluten-free , vegan pancakes.
      Best Recipe for Potato Latkes (Crispy No Eggs Vegan Pancakes)
    • Roasted broccoli recipe in oven for easy and quick vegan side dish
      Oven Roasted Broccoli Recipe (Easy Vegan Side Dish)
    • A stack of crispy vegan zucchini fritters with chickpea flour and carrots
      Vegan Zucchini Fritters With Chickpea Flour (Gluten-Free)

    📖 Recipe

    Vegan oven-roasted asparagus on white plate sprinkled with red pepper flakes and drizzled freshly squeezed lemon juice and wooden fork on white table

    Easy Vegan Roasted Asparagus Recipe

    Marinela
    Vegan roasted asparagus recipe is the best springtime side dish that completes perfectly any meal. The mix of extra virgin olive oil, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and sesame seeds will give this quick and easy side a distinctive but subtle taste and a bit of heat.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Brunch, dinner, Side Dish
    Cuisine Gluten-free, Plant-based, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 77 kcal

    Equipment

    • Wooden cutting board
    • baking sheet lined with parchment paper
    • kitchen knife

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 bunch thick, fresh asparagus (about one pound) trimmed
    • 1-2 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper optional
    • 2 tablespoon sesame seeds optional
    • 1 pinch red pepper flakes for sprinkling, optional
    • freshly squeezed lemon juice for drizzling, optional

    Instructions
     

    • First, preheat the oven to 428°F / 220°C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
      Rinse the asparagus under cold tap water. Dry it out with a clean kitchen towel. Then, with a knife slice off the tough bottom parts of the entire bunch of asparagus at once. Alternatively, you can bend and break each stalk individually with your hands.
    • Transfer the asparagus to the prepared baking pan, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, and season with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and garlic powder.
      Arrange asparagus in one layer in the pan. For an enhanced nutty flavor and crunchy texture sprinkle generously with sesame seeds.
      Roast for about 15 minutes or until it's lightly browned and crisp-tender. Very thin asparagus is done in 10-12 minutes, thicker asparagus will need 15-16 minutes. Roasting time will depend on the thickness of the asparagus spears.
    • Serve while warm with a drizzle of freshly squeezed lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, or vegan sauce. Sprinkle with a pinch of red pepper flakes foto add a little heat if you like.

    Notes

    • Dry completely after washing. Be sure to pat dry your asparagus before cooking it to ensure a tender-crispy texture with a smoky taste.
    • Don't crowd the pan. Arrange your asparagus in a single layer thus giving it space to brown and roast properly. If you have a large number of asparagus stalks to roast simply use two pans or bake in batches. An overcrowded pan will result in steamed asparagus.
    • Don't use too much oil. Use just enough oil to lightly coat the stalks on all sides. It helps to achieve that nice charred tips with a rich, toasty flavor.
    • Don't overcook. Cook until spears are starting to brown and are easily pierced with a fork. Smaller pieces will roast quickly while thicker ones will take longer to cook usually 15-16 minutes.
    • Storage. Baked asparagus tastes best the day it is cooked. However, if you have leftovers you can store them wrapped in aluminum foil or in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 77kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 294mgPotassium: 250mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 859IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword asparagus, roasted asparagus
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Food safety

    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    Did you make this asparagus recipe?

    I would greatly appreciate it if you have a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. You can also share your photo on Instagram with the tag @go_eatgreen and hashtag it #go_eatgreen. We would love to see your creations! Thank you for sharing your experience with us, we are so grateful you are here 🙏

    Follow Go Eat Green on Pinterest for more easy and delicious vegan recipe ideas.


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    A vegan food blogger, photographer, and recipe developer who is passionate about cooking simple, tasty, and budget-friendly recipes with wholesome God-given ingredients. Welcome to my vegan world! My goal is to share these delicious plant-based recipes with you so you can lead more healthy and happy lives!

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