Artificial Flavors Free Steamed Asparagus with Olive Oil & Lemon
Fresh asparagus needs almost nothing to shine, and this recipe proves it beautifully. A quick steam over boiling water keeps the spears vivid green and perfectly tender without any fuss, and the finish of extra-virgin olive oil, bright lemon juice, and a pinch of sea salt is as clean and honest as a dish can get. Every single ingredient here is exactly what it says it is — no flavor packets, no seasoning blends with mystery additives, just real food doing what real food does best. If you've ever flipped over a bottle of store-bought dressing or a spice mix and felt your eyes glaze over at the ingredient list, this is your antidote. The optional lemon zest takes the citrus note from subtle to genuinely vibrant, and it's worth adding if you have a lemon on the counter anyway. This is the kind of side dish that pairs with practically anything and comes together faster than you'd expect, making it an easy weeknight staple you'll reach for again and again.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 1 ½ lb fresh asparagus, tough ends snapped off
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt, or to taste
- 1 tsp lemon zest (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Pour about 1 inch of water into a large skillet or wide saucepan and set a steamer basket inside. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- 2
Arrange the asparagus in the steamer basket in a single layer. Cover and steam until the spears are bright green and just tender when pierced at the thickest point with a paring knife, 4–6 minutes for medium spears or 6–7 minutes for thick spears.
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