Grilled Asparagus with Lemon Dressing
- 1 1/2 to 2 pounds thick asparagus
- About 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Juice of 3 lemons
- 2 tablespoons minced shallot or scallion
- 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
- Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus; most spears will break naturally an inch or two above the bottom.
- Peel the stalks up to the flower bud.
- Meanwhile, start a grill or preheat a cast-iron or other heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it smokes.
- To grill the asparagus, toss them with about 1 tablespoon of the oil, mixing with your hands until theyre coated.
- Season well with salt and pepper to taste.
- Grill until tender and browned in spots, turning once or twice, a total of 5 to 10 minutes.
- To pan-grill the asparagus, do not oil or season them.
- Just toss them in the hot skillet and cook, turning the individual spears as they brown, until tender, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Remove as they finish and season with salt and pepper.
- Mix together the lemon juice and shallot, then stir in enough olive oil to add a little body and take the edge off the sharpness of the lemon; the mixture should still be quite strong.
- Season it with salt and plenty of black pepper and stir in the parsley.
- Serve the asparagus hot or at room temperature with grilled or broiled swordfish, monkfish, or other sturdy fish.
- Spoon the sauce over all.
- You could serve these grilled asparagus with any of the vinaigrettes on page 304 in lieu of the lemon-shallot-parsley mixture here.
- If you were serving them as part of an Asian-themed meal, you might swap out the dressing in this recipe for Soy-Ginger Dressing: Combine 1/4 cup soy sauce with 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 2 teaspoons rice or other mild vinegar, and a few drops of sesame oil.
- Serve over the asparagus.
thick asparagus, olive oil, salt, lemons, shallot, fresh parsley
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/grilled-asparagus-with-lemon-dressing-386718 (may not work)