Roasted pesto asparagus pairs together Gruyère cheese with pesto for a unique flavor combination certain to elevate your meal! The nutty flavor of the cheese and sauce compliments the fresh crunch of this healthy vegetable for a dish your whole family will love.
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Healthy Vegetable Choice
Asparagus is an amazing choice for your family…low in calories but packed with nutrients. Asparagus is high in vitamin K, an essential nutrient for healthy blood and bone functioning, as well as folate, a nutrient necessary for healthy tissue and cell health. These two nutrients are not as easy to ensure in your diet as many vitamins and minerals, making asparagus great for your health.
Aside from the many vitamins present in asparagus, this veggie is also high in antioxidants. Antioxidants offer powerful anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anticancer benefits, as well as lower blood pressure. Low in calories to help you lose weight, making this a near perfect vegetable.
Finding new creative recipes to keep your household menu fresh will ensure your family enjoys this healthy vegetable every time! Asparagus is versatile and pairs great with fish, chicken, pork or beef.
Make it Unique!
Pesto is a sauce that originated in Genoa, Italy. With crushed garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, and basil this sauce is used to create a unique spin on asparagus. An olive oil base will coat the stalks with the nutty goodness of the pesto.
Pair the coated asparagus with Gruyère cheese for an amazing taste combination. Gruyère cheese is a lightly salty cheese with nutty undertones. As it ages, the taste becomes more aggressive so opting for a mild cheese pairs better with asparagus.
Trimming Asparagus
You want to trim asparagus prior to roasting to eliminate the tough, woody ends of the stalks. There is debate on the best method for trimming your asparagus, whether to snap the ends off or to pare with a knife. Either way is truly acceptable, however pay close attention to trim or snap where the white end of the asparagus begins to turn green to avoid losing any of the edible veggie.
Roasted Pesto Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Asparagus
- 2 TBSP Pesto
- 1/2 Cup Gruyère Cheese Shredded
- Salt and Pepper To taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Wash and snap off tough bottom of asparagus stalks.
- Toss the asparagus with pesto. Season with salt and pepper to taste
- Roast asparagus for 5 minutes.
- Rotate the asparagus to ensure more even roasting.
- Top with Gruyère cheese and return to oven for another 4 to 5 minutes.
- Enjoy immediately.
Helpful Hints
Toss the asparagus stalks in the pesto with you hands to ensure even coverage. Do not immediately add the cheese, roast for half of the cook time to ensure the asparagus is cooked enough without overcooking the cheese. Roast the asparagus to a bright green color, so that the stalks still have a crispness to them. Mushiness is no good, besides a gross texture it cooks away many of the healthy nutrients.
Roasted pesto asparagus is a delicious companion side dish to your favorite main dish. A new twist on a traditional vegetable dish that your while family will love.
Eat well. Be well.
