Roasted White Asparagus With Capers And Dill - In The Kitch

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Roasted white asparagus with capers and dill and text overlay that says 'roasted white asparagus'.

Roasted white asparagus with text overlay that says 'roasted white asparagus'.

This roasted white asparagus recipe features fresh ingredients like pine nuts, capers and dill. It's the perfect, natural woodland dish that's accentuated by the vibrant hue of the white asparagus. Surprise your guests or family members by cooking something a little more unique for your next family dinner.

Roasted white asparagus in serving dish with small yellow flowers on the side.

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 and spring sangria 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.

Jump to:

White Asparagus vs. Green
Ingredients
How to Cook White Asparagus
Serving Suggestions
Roasted White Asparagus FAQs
Related Main Dishes to Consider
📋Recipe

White Asparagus vs. Green

Peeled white asparagus on cutting board.

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, the white variety has a unique flavor that alters the taste and texture of your recipe.

Ingredients

white asparagus - It 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 Cook 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

Collage of white asparagus getting peeled and ends chopped.

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

Collage of white asparagus getting prepped for roasting on baking sheet.

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).

Roasted white asparagus on baking sheet and dish with garnishes collage.

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).

Roasted white asparagus on white dish with capers and dill and yellow flowers on the side.

Step 8. Serve. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

This roasted 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 this asparagus the centerpiece of your meal.
It features vegan ingredients so it's suitable to serve with a vegan main dish.

Roasted White Asparagus FAQs

When is white asparagus in season?

It has a short season, usually from April to June. If you can't find it in the local grocery store, check out farmers' markets.

How do you know when it's done cooking?

You can test the asparagus for doneness by inserting a fork into the stem; it should be tender but not mushy. You can also try snapping a spear in half; it should have a little snap to it but not be too crispy.

How do you store the leftovers?

Store leftover cooked asparagus in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 5 days. It can be frozen for up to 10 to 12 months.

Roasted white asparagus on white dish with capers and dill.

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If you tried this Roasted White Asparagus Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!

📋Recipe

Roasted White Asparagus

Joss Dyckson This roasted white asparagus recipe features fresh ingredients like pine nuts, capers and dill. It's the perfect natural, woodland dish that's accentuated by the vibrant hue of the white asparagus. 5 from 5 votes Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved! Prep Time 5 minutes Cook Time 10 minutes Total Time 15 minutes Course Side DishCuisine American Servings 4Calories 174 kcal

Ingredients US CustomaryMetric 1x2x3x

▢ 1 bunch white asparagus (about 15 to 20 spears) - cleaned, ends removed and tough outer layer peeled
▢ 3 tablespoons olive oil
▢ 3 tablespoons capers - drained
▢ 3 tablespoons pine nuts
▢ fresh dill - chopped
▢ salt and pepper - to taste

Instructions

Heat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Spread the asparagus out onto the sheet in one layer. Brush generously with the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle the capers and pine nuts on top. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil.
Roast for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until fork-tender and golden brown. Keep an eye on them. It will take longer for thicker spears.
Serve topped with fresh dill.

Equipment

▢ Baking sheet
▢ Parchment paper

Notes

Store leftover asparagus in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 5 days. It can be frozen for up to 10 to 12 months.
You can test the asparagus for doneness by inserting a fork into the stem; it should be tender but not mushy. You can also try snapping a spear in half; it should have a little snap to it but not be too crispy.

Nutrition

Calories: 174kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 4gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gSodium: 169mgPotassium: 282mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 868IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.

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