Italian Style Asparagus
Elevate your side dishes with this vibrant and flavorful Italian Style Asparagus, a quick and easy recipe that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions. Fresh asparagus spears are sautéed in fragrant extra virgin olive oil with minced garlic, then seasoned with zesty lemon juice, a touch of red pepper flakes for subtle heat, and a generous sprinkle of salty Parmesan cheese. This dish is fast and fuss-free, coming together in just 20 minutes, and offers a perfect balance of crisp-tender texture and Mediterranean-inspired flavors. Garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color and serve warm for a crowd-pleasing side that pairs beautifully with pasta, grilled fish, or roasted chicken. Keywords: Italian asparagus recipe, sautéed asparagus, quick side dishes, lemon garlic asparagus, Parmesan asparagus.
Try SnapCalorie's FREE AI assisted nutrition tracking free in the App store or on Android.
Scan with your phone to download!
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh asparagus
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic cloves
- 1 whole lemon
- 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.125 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (optional)
Directions
Step 1
Wash the asparagus thoroughly and trim the tough ends, typically the bottom 1-2 inches.
Step 2
Peel and mince the garlic cloves. Zest the lemon and then cut it in half to squeeze the juice from one half.
Step 3
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil.
Step 4
Once the oil is shimmering, add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Step 5
Add the asparagus to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the garlic and oil.
Step 6
Season the asparagus with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir well.
Step 7
Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the asparagus is tender but still crisp. Cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the asparagus.
Step 8
Remove the skillet from the heat and squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the asparagus. Sprinkle with lemon zest for added brightness.
Step 9
Transfer the asparagus to a serving platter and top with grated Parmesan cheese and optional fresh parsley for garnish.
Step 10
Serve warm as a side dish and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
| Serving size | (575.1g) |
|---|
| Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|
| Calories | 444.3 |
| Total Fat 34.9g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 8.0g | 0% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g | |
| Cholesterol 20mg | 0% |
| Sodium 1533.3mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 26.6g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 11.6g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 7.9g | |
| Protein 19.5g | 0% |
| Vitamin D 0IU | 0% |
| Calcium 362.6mg | 0% |
| Iron 10.5mg | 0% |
| Potassium 1048.9mg | 0% |
Source of Calories