I wanted a simple side dish to pair with the Spicy Asian Noodle Salad and the Garlic-Lime Shrimp Cooked on a Himalayan Salt Plate that I was making for dinner. I tossed the asparagus spears in some sesame oil and seasoned them lightly before cooking them in my grill pan until crisp-tender. I served the asparagus spears with a soy-garlic aioli that I always serve with my steamed artichokes. We all enjoyed this side dish and it disappeared quickly. I have a feeling these sesame asparagus spears will be on our table again soon.
Make the soy-garlic aioli sauce by combining the mayonnaise, soy sauce, and minced garlic, to taste, mix together until well combined. Set aside to allow flavors to mingle.
Heat the grill pan over medium heat. Toss the asparagus with some sesame oil, sea salt, freshly cracked pepper, and garlic powder, to taste. Place the asparagus into the grill pan and cook for 3-4 minutes then flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until tender.
Place the asparagus spears on a serving plate and sprinkle with some toasted sesame seeds then serve with the aoili on the side as a dipping sauce. Serve immediately. Enjoy.
- Soy-Garlic Aioli:
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 1-2 tsp soy sauce, more or less, to taste
- 1 large clove of garlic, minced
- Other Ingredients:
- Asparagus spears, wooden ends removed
- 2-3 tsp toasted sesame oil, to taste
- Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
- Garlic powder, to taste
- Toasted sesame seeds, to taste
- Make the soy-garlic aioli sauce by combining the mayonnaise, soy sauce, and minced garlic, to taste, mix together until well combined. Set aside to allow flavors to mingle.
- Heat the grill pan over medium heat.
- Toss the asparagus with some sesame oil, sea salt, freshly cracked pepper, and garlic powder, to taste.
- Place the asparagus into the grill pan and cook for 3-4 minutes then flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until tender.
- Place the asparagus spears on a serving plate and sprinkle with some toasted sesame seeds then serve with the aoili on the side as a dipping sauce.
- Serve immediately. Enjoy.
Mark always likes to eat his veggies with his hands (doubtless to see if I’ll become irritated), so these look like they’d meet his need for finger veggies. I saute mine in butter, and never thought of using olive oil/sesame seed combo instead. Looks terrific, Pam!
Look delicious ! I love asparagus !
No way I can find asparagus right in the middle of summer, but I guess green beans would work just as great. Love garlic aioli sauce a lot! Have a great weekend, Pam.
What a nice sauce for the asparagus. Need to try that. Thanks Pam.
i’ve started putting soy sauce in places i never expected to put it, but i haven’t tried it with asparagus yet–wonderful idea!
I am the worst at coming up with veggie side dishes (ironically), but this is such a great, simple but tasty idea!