Roasting enhances the flavor of most vegetables and retains the nutrients. Topping your asparagus with a lemony browned butter balsamic sauce is a decadent treat, but easy enough for a weeknight dinner but everyone will ask for more. In 15 minutes you can have this roasted asparagus side dish ready to eat.

Place asparagus on baking sheet.

Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper.

Use your hands (the best kitchen utensil you have!) to toss. Roast in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes, or until edges start to brown.

Place butter in ovenproof sauté pan or cast-iron pan and and melt over medium heat. Swirl pan and keep over heat until butter starts to brown. Remove from heat and add soy sauce and balsamic.

Squeeze half a lemon over the sauce and stir. Mix together. Adjust to taste.

Place roasted asparagus in pan, toss to coat and place under broiler for a minute or two. Add a few lemon slices for more flavor. Serve warm.

Roasted Asparagus with Lemon Browned Butter Balsamic Sauce

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 lb asparagus, trimmed

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/2 lemon slices (optional)

Lemon Browned Butter Balsamic Sauce

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place asparagus on baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper; toss to coat completely. Roast for 10 minutes, or until edges start to brown
Make sauce while asparagus is roasting. Place butter in an ovenproof sauté pan or cast iron pan over medium heat. Swirl around occasionally as butter melts and turns brown. Remove from heat and add soy and balsamic. Squeeze lemon juice into sauce and stir.
Add roasted asparagus to the pan, toss to coat and place under broiler for 2-3 minutes. Serve warm.