This is a vibrant, fresh, and easy blanched asparagus recipe with feta cheese. Cook asparagus, drain, and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Garnish asparagus with feta cheese. Side dish complete!
Blanch Asparagus To Retain Color and Crispness
Blanching is throwing vegetables (nearly any kind) in a salted pot of boiling water, cooking for a couple minutes (or until desired tenderness), draining, and throwing them in an ice bath (ice and water) to cool them fast.
The ice bath stops the asparagus from cooking more and helps it to retain a vibrant green color.
Blanching also ensures that the asparagus has the exact level of desired crunch or tenderness that you choose.
Blanching is a perfect way to cook asparagus if you want to retain a vibrant color and crisp vegetable.
It is also perfect to blanch asparagus ahead of time because it will still look and taste fresh for serving at a later time.
No Need to Blanch Asparagus If Eating Right Away
I don't want to add confusion and tell you to blanch one minute and then tell you not to blanch the next.
Having said that, if you're in a hurry skip the ice bath for the asparagus and just get this asparagus side dish on the table faster.
So, if eating asparagus with feta cheese right away, just drain the asparagus (skip the ice water bath) and toss with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Top the asparagus with feta cheese and you're good to go!
I like green crisp or al dente asparagus. Cook asparagus a little bit longer if you want them softer like my mom 🙂
Older and thicker asparagus will naturally be tougher so they will need more cooking time than younger or thinner asparagus.
Blanched asparagus with Feta cheese will easily become a simple and fast favorite side dish.
Serving Suggestion
Serve this blanched Asparagus and Feta cheese recipe with a complementary Mediterranean dish like an antipasto salad or Falafels, or you can pair it a pork or chicken main dish like:
You May Also Like
If you like easy side dishes, check these recipes out:
Things In My Kitchen:
- Tongs - Love these for nearly everything and perfect for tossing the asparagus with olive oil.
- 3 Quart stainless steel bowl for tossing veggies. It's stainless steel, flat bottomed for stability, stackable, and dishwasher safe.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Easy Roasted Asparagus with Feta Cheese
EatSimpleFood.com
This is a vibrant, fresh, and easy roasted asparagus recipe tossed with olive oil, salt, and pepper and topped with a touch of salty and tangy feta cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: International
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 bunch (~ 1 lb) asparagus, tough ends cut or snapped off
- 1 ½ Tbsp e.v. olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F
- On a sheet pan - toss asparagus with olive oil and a touch of salt and pepper.
- Cook 8-12 minutes depending on thinness / thickness. Asparagus are done when desired tenderness and when they start to crisp up and brown.
- Top with crumbled feta cheese and add salt to taste. Happy Eating! Beckie
Leave a Comment