Roasted Asparagus with Mozzarella makes a perfect side to any weeknight or elegant meal. Thick asparagus stalks are roasted until tender, topped with fresh mozzarella, then drizzled with a simple lemon dressing.

My family loves asparagus and I serve them often as a side. I wanted to try something new and used the ingredients I had onhand to create a simple yet interesting way to serve one of our favorite vegetables.

START WITH ROASTING THE ASPARAGUS

It’s simple to roast asparagus; just drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast for 15 minutes or so. The magic happens when the cheese and the dressing are added.

I have a small Meyer lemon tree and it graces me with about 5 lemons a year. I use those lemons for special dishes and this is definitely special. I use the zest and juice and mix it with grated garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. If you don’t have Meyer lemons, regular lemons are fine to use.

Once the asparagus are roasted and tender, I make bundles of 4 asparagus per person, top the bundles with a slice of fresh mozzarella, then spoon the lemon dressing over the cheese.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CHEESE

The asparagus is placed back into the oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese slightly. You’ll start to smell the garlic as it becomes fragrant from the heat. It truly smells amazing.

Make roasted asparagus with mozzarella and serve it as a light lunch or side to any meal. It doesn’t have to be for a special occasion as it’s easy to make.

Not only is this delicious, it makes a beautiful presentation. Each little bundle is a serving. This recipe can also be doubled or tripled. Enjoy!

Life is too short for mediocre food.

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Roasted Asparagus with Mozzarella

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Roasted Asparagus with Mozzarella makes a perfect side to any weeknight or elegant meal. Thick asparagus stalks are roasted until tender, topped with fresh mozzarella, then drizzled with a simple lemon dressing. Recipe can be doubled or tripled.

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 Servings

Author: Natalie Gregory

Equipment Used

Baking Sheet

Ingredients

• 16 - 20 large thick asparagus spears snapped and bottoms peeled See Notes*
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 medium garlic clove grated
• 4 (½”) slices fresh mozzarella
• Kosher or sea salt
• Pepper

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Instructions

• Preheat oven 425℉.
• Place asparagus on parchment and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes until tender. See NOTES.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine remaining olive oil, lemon juice, zest, garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix with a small whisk or fork until combined and set aside.
• Group the roasted asparagus into 4 bundles. Top each bundle with a slice of fresh mozzarella then spoon the dressing over mozzarella.
• Place baking sheet back into oven for 3 - 5 minutes until the garlic is fragrant and mozzarella just starts to melt.

Notes

*Sometimes I peel the bottoms of the asparagus and sometimes I don’t. Peeling delivers a more tender bottom stalk. Large thick asparagus are recommended for this dish. If you're using thin, reduce the roasting time. Check after 10 minutes. We want the asparagus to keep shape and not be overcooked.

You can bunch more asparagus if you like. It doesn't have to be precise as long as they can be covered with the cheese.

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Nutritional Information

I don't post the nutritional value because I don't trust the accuracy of the nutritional apps. I’m not a nutritionist and don't want to post misinformation.

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