Are you ready to transform ordinary asparagus into a restaurant-worthy side dish that will have your family and guests begging for seconds? This Quick Marinated Sesame Asparagus recipe is your ticket to an incredibly flavorful, Asian-inspired culinary experience that's both simple to prepare and impressively delicious. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal cooking time, you'll create a vibrant, aromatic dish that elevates any meal from mundane to magnificent.
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
Cuisine: Asian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb asparagus, trimmed
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 1 garlic clove, minced
Instructions
- Wash the asparagus thoroughly under cold running water and trim off the tough woody ends by snapping or cutting approximately 1-2 inches from the bottom of the stalks.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, minced garlic, and sesame oil. Whisk the ingredients together until well blended to create the marinade.
- Place the trimmed asparagus in a shallow dish or resealable plastic bag. Pour the marinade over the asparagus, ensuring each spear is evenly coated. Let marinate for 5-10 minutes at room temperature.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle pan over medium-high heat. If using a non-stick pan, no additional oil is required.
- Remove asparagus from marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off. Reserve the remaining marinade.
- Place asparagus in the hot skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes, turning occasionally to ensure even cooking and light charring on all sides. The asparagus should be tender-crisp with slight caramelization.
- Transfer cooked asparagus to a serving platter and sprinkle sesame seeds over the top for added texture and flavor.
- Optional: Drizzle the reserved marinade over the asparagus for extra seasoning before serving.
- Serve immediately while hot, as a side dish or part of an Asian-inspired meal.
Tips
- Choose fresh, firm asparagus spears with tight, compact tips for the best texture and flavor.
- Don't overcrowd the skillet - cook asparagus in a single layer to ensure even charring and caramelization.
- For extra flavor, toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan for 1-2 minutes before sprinkling them over the dish.
- If you prefer a slightly different heat level, adjust the cooking time: shorter for crisp-tender asparagus, longer for softer texture.
- Use a hot skillet or griddle pan to achieve those beautiful, slightly charred edges that add depth to the dish.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute tamari for soy sauce.
- Serve immediately after cooking to maintain the perfect tender-crisp texture and maximize flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 63kcal
Carbohydrates: 5g
Protein: g
Fat: g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 0mg
