Low Calorie Side Dish

Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter

September 18, 2013

Roasting vegetables is very high on my list of best ways to get your veggies in. It’s simple and it enhances their natural flavors, plus you can jazz it up with herbs and spices. Roasting asparagus is no different and it’s perfect with just salt and pepper. However, now that I’ve discovered Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter, I’ll be finishing off my veggies with this sauce from now on.

Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter by So, How's It Taste? www.leah-claire.com

So, how’s it taste?

It’s just as fantastic and you think it’s going to be. Roasting asparagus is super simple. You can use olive oil or in this case, spray with a bit of cooking spray. A sprinkle of salt and freshly ground pepper, then a 12-minute visit to the oven is all it takes for the roasting part. The sauce is pretty straightforward, too. Heat your butter in a skillet until it becomes that gorgeous, golden brown. Splash in a bit of soy sauce and balsamic vinegar and boom! Your world has just changed. It’s not a huge amount of sauce (it is a low calorie recipe after all), but it’s just enough to give a little something extra to the asparagus. It’s slightly nutty from the browned butter with a bit of tang. I think this sauce would be great on almost any roasted vegetable, too.

Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter

Cooking Light, October 2013
makes 8 servings
per serving: 45 calories, 3g fat, 1.9g protein, 3.9g carbs, 1.7g fiber

Ingredients:

40 asparagus spears, trimmed (about 2 lbs.)
Cooking spray
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp. butter
2 tsp. low-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°.

2. Arrange asparagus in a single layer on a baking sheet; coat with cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 400° for 12 minutes or until tender.

3. Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat; cook 3 minutes or until lightly browned, shaking pan occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in soy sauce and balsamic vinegar. Drizzle over asparagus, tossing well to coat.

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  • danielle September 18, 2013 at 8:59 am

    Roasted asparagus is one of my favorite sides. I will have to try it with the browned butter is sounds great!

  • alexandra @ sweet betweens [blog] September 18, 2013 at 9:29 am

    gah! husband loves roasted asparagus but haaaaaaaaates vinegar. 🙁 will have to absolutely make the sauce and just hoard it for myself, hoping the husband wears nose plugs to dinner. sounds like a delicious combo with all that browned butter.

    • Leah Short September 18, 2013 at 9:39 am

      Wha? I cannot comprehend not liking vinegar, especially balsamic. I bet it would still be pretty tasty if you left it out and upped the soy sauce. I’d totally just hoard the sauce just for me though!

  • amy @ fearless homemaker September 18, 2013 at 9:40 am

    I make asparagus all the time, but usually only grilled or steamed – I don’t think I’ve tried it roasted yet. I do love roasted broccoli, root veggies, brussels sprouts, etc., so I bet I’d love asparagus roasted, too! Ad that sauce?! SWOON.

  • angela@spinachtiger September 18, 2013 at 11:41 am

    Love the simplicity and the flavors. Nice side dish or just topped with a runny egg for me.

    • Leah Short September 18, 2013 at 12:54 pm

      Now you’re talking! I love a runny egg on just about anything.

  • Lesley Eats September 18, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    I love roasted asparagus. Surprised that this recipe is so lo-cal!

  • Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking September 18, 2013 at 3:47 pm

    I love asparagus but I love balsamic even more… and butter even more than both of them combined! 😀 Great side dish, Leah!

  • Julie @ Table for Two September 18, 2013 at 5:46 pm

    I have to try this, I love these flavors!!

  • Teresa, foodonfifth September 18, 2013 at 6:01 pm

    Leah, this looks so delicious and uber healthy. Now that we get good asparagus all year long I will add this to my recipe file for later. Yum.

  • Shashi September 19, 2013 at 9:38 am

    Love the addiotion of balsamic to these roasted asparagus! Awesome idea!

  • DessertForTwo September 19, 2013 at 8:49 pm

    I say I have a lot of favorite vegetables, but asparagus is definitely one of them. I’m always looking for new ways to make it–thanks!