Roasted White Asparagus

This 20 minute side dish recipe cooks your white asparagus until it's tender, juicy and infused with the flavor of olive oil, capers and pine nuts. It is perfect as a vegan side dish option for Easter or anytime of year, but I also love to serve it with this lemon basil chicken pasta in the spring.

The appearance might surprise your guests at first, but when they take a bite, they might find that they prefer it to the green variety.

White Asparagus vs. Green

How it's grown. So what's the difference between green and white asparagus? While green asparagus grows directly out of the ground, white asparagus grows underground like a root vegetable. As a result, this asparagus isn't exposed to the sunlight until it's harvested. It tends to be more expensive than green because of its shorter growing season.

So why does it end up white vs. green? Asparagus requires sunlight exposure to produce chlorophyll and develop its characteristic green color. With no sunlight exposure, this asparagus stays pale and white while it grows in the soil.

Flavor comparison. White asparagus has a lighter, sweeter flavor than the traditional green varieties--which have more of a grassy taste. While you can add it to dishes that require green asparagus, white asparagus has a unique flavor that alters the taste and texture of your recipe.

Ingredients

• white asparagus - White asparagus tends to be thick and tough so you need to make sure you cut or break off the ends before cooking and peel the bottom two thirds of the spear. I will show you how below.
• olive oil - Olive oil is a good choice to pair with white asparagus because it can counteract the bitterness.
• capers - Capers add a little pop of tangy flavor to the finished dish. You will find them in a jar in the pickle aisle or international aisle of the grocery store.
• pine nuts - Pine nuts are buttery and delicious because they have a high oil content. They taste amazing when roasted with the asparagus.
• fresh dill - Make sure it is fresh and not dried. I have a tutorial for how to chop fresh dill that you might find helpful.

*Check recipe card for ingredient amounts.

How to Roast White Asparagus

Preheat oven to 425°F while you prep the asparagus. Make sure the asparagus is rinsed and patted dry before you begin.

Prepare the Asparagus

Step 1. Chop the ends. Chop about 1" to 2" off of the ends of the asparagus. They are tough and we don't want to serve that part of the asparagus (Image 1).

Step 2. Peel. Peel the outer layer of each asparagus spear because it is also tough and bitter. You only need to peel the bottom two-thirds. Now we are left with the most tender parts of the asparagus (Image 2).

Roasting Steps

Step 3. Prepare baking sheet. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (Image 3). Spread the asparagus out onto the baking sheet in one layer (Image 4).

Step 4. Brush with oil. Brush the white asparagus generously with the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper (Image 5).

Step 5. Add capers and nuts. Sprinkle the capers and pine nuts on top. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil (Image 6).

Step 6. Roast. Roast for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until fork-tender and golden brown. Keep an eye on them (Image 7).

Chef's Note: It will take longer for thicker asparagus pears. Use a fork to test for tenderness.

Step 7. Garnish. Garnish with freshly chopped dill (Image 8).

Step 8. Serve. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

• This white asparagus recipe is the perfect, easy side dish for hearty dinners like poultry, ham, electric skillet pot roast and beef stew.
• Try it with grilled proteins like steak, burgers and kimchi chicken.
• If you like vegetables, you could make white asparagus the centerpiece of your meal.
• It features vegan ingredients so it's suitable to serve with a vegan main dish.

Recipe FAQs

Related Main Dishes to Consider