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Asparagus with Peanut Sauce

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on September 15, 2011

Time

20 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 as a side dish

Asparagus with Peanut Sauce

Ingredients

1 medium clove garlic, minced1 ½ teaspoons grated fresh ginger 1 ½ teaspoons rice vinegar 1 ½ teaspoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil Salt and ground black pepper 1 ¼ pounds asparagus spears, tough ends snapped off1 tablespoon peanut butter 1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro leaves 1 medium scallion, white and green parts, minced

Instructions

  1. Either light a medium fire in grill or preheat broiler. Whisk garlic, ginger, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil, along with salt and pepper to taste, in medium bowl. Brush asparagus with about 1 tablespoon dressing to coat lightly.
  2. Either grill asparagus, turning halfway through cooking time, until tender and streaked with light grill marks, 5 to 7 minutes, or line up spears in single layer on heavy jellyroll or rimmed baking sheet and broil, placing sheet about 4 inches from top heating element and shaking it once halfway through cooking to rotate spears, until tender and browned in some spots, 6 to 8 minutes.
  3. Whisk peanut butter, cilantro, and 1 tablespoon water into remaining dressing; toss with asparagus. Transfer to serving platter, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, sprinkle with minced scallion, and serve immediately.
Asparagus with Peanut Sauce

Asparagus with Peanut Sauce

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

20 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 as a side dish

Ingredients

1 medium clove garlic, minced
1 ½ teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 ½ teaspoons rice vinegar
1 ½ teaspoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
Salt and ground black pepper
1 ¼ pounds asparagus spears, tough ends snapped off
1 tablespoon peanut butter
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro leaves
1 medium scallion, white and green parts, minced

Ingredients

1 medium clove garlic, minced
1 ½ teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 ½ teaspoons rice vinegar
1 ½ teaspoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
Salt and ground black pepper
1 ¼ pounds asparagus spears, tough ends snapped off
1 tablespoon peanut butter
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro leaves
1 medium scallion, white and green parts, minced

Ingredients

1 medium clove garlic, minced
1 ½ teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 ½ teaspoons rice vinegar
1 ½ teaspoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
Salt and ground black pepper
1 ¼ pounds asparagus spears, tough ends snapped off
1 tablespoon peanut butter
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro leaves
1 medium scallion, white and green parts, minced

Why This Recipe Works

In search of an asparagus recipe that produced beautifully browned, caramelized asparagus, we found that grilling and broiling work best on thin to medium-thin asparagus—no more than 5/8 inch thick. When we tried spears any thicker, they burned on the surface before they had a chance to cook through. For broiling, keep the pan about 4 inches from the heating element to allow even cooking. For grilling, a medium fire serves best.

Instructions

  1. Either light a medium fire in grill or preheat broiler. Whisk garlic, ginger, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil, along with salt and pepper to taste, in medium bowl. Brush asparagus with about 1 tablespoon dressing to coat lightly.
  2. Either grill asparagus, turning halfway through cooking time, until tender and streaked with light grill marks, 5 to 7 minutes, or line up spears in single layer on heavy jellyroll or rimmed baking sheet and broil, placing sheet about 4 inches from top heating element and shaking it once halfway through cooking to rotate spears, until tender and browned in some spots, 6 to 8 minutes.
  3. Whisk peanut butter, cilantro, and 1 tablespoon water into remaining dressing; toss with asparagus. Transfer to serving platter, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, sprinkle with minced scallion, and serve immediately.

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