Skip to main content
Epicurious
Cookbooks

Roasted Asparagus with a Sesame Vinaigrette

I learned to roast my asparagus from Nina Simonds, the expert on health giving Asian foods, and after trying it the first time, I’ve never turned back. I buy a full 1/2 pound and extract about four spears before roasting, to save for a stir-fry. Leftovers make a wonderful BLA (see below) or just a salad.

Ingredients

1/2 pound asparagus
1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
Pinch of salt

Sesame Vinaigrette

1 scant tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
3/4 teaspoon sugar

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Trim the tough ends off the asparagus. Lay the spears on a baking tray lined with aluminum foil or Silpat, and drizzle the sesame and olive oils over. Salt lightly. Roll the spears over to coat all sides. Put the pan in a preheated 475° oven, and roast the asparagus for 12 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the vinaigrette, and when the asparagus is done, pour some of it over the spears.

  2. Second Round: BLA (Bacon, Lettuce, and Asparagus Sandwich)

    Step 2

    If you have leftover asparagus, try making what, according to the food writer David Nussbaum, the natives in Massachusetts—in the Connecticut River Valley, where asparagus is grown—call a BLA: a bacon, lettuce, and asparagus sandwich with mayonnaise. It’s delicious.

The Pleasures of Cooking for One by Judith Jones. Copyright © 2009 by Judith Jones. Published by Knopf. All Rights Reserved. Judith Jones is senior editor and vice president at Alfred A. Knopf. She is the author of The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food and the coauthor with Evan Jones (her late husband) of three books: The Book of Bread; Knead It, Punch It, Bake It!; and The Book of New New England Cookery. She also collaborated with Angus Cameron on The L. L. Bean Game and Fish Cookbook, and has contributed to Vogue, Saveur, and Gourmet magazines. In 2006, she was awarded the James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. She lives in New York City and Vermont.
TagsCondimentAsparagusVegetableSideDinnerDairy FreeVeganVegetarianEasySpringCookbooks
Read More
Caramelized Onion Pasta
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
The Only Frittata Recipe You’ll Ever Need
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
One-Pot Chicken Thighs With Cilantro Rice and Beans
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
29 Ricotta Recipes for Dinner, Dessert, and More
Put that half-full tub to use with recipes that go beyond the Italian American classics.
31 Cashew Recipes That Go Beyond the Snack Bowl
Like Sri Lankan cashew curry and vegan stuffed shells.
Fudgy Chocolate Bundt Cake
Glossy, intensely chocolaty, and spiked with coffee and sour cream, this Bundt is the ultimate all-purpose dessert.
13 Types of Nuts and How to Cook With Them
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Classic French Vinaigrette
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.