Fresh asparagus spears are coated in a mixture of grated Parmesan and panko breadcrumbs and baked until crispy and golden brown for an addictive, healthy, "asparagus fries" side dish or snack.
The other day in the grocery store, my 5-year-old spied a display of asparagus and begged me to buy a bundle of it. Not one to argue with any child-o-mine who enthusiastically requests a green vegetable, I obliged. Now, I typically pan sautée or roast my asparagus. But once we got home, I decided to try a new method of cooking it, in hopes of convincing the 7-year-old and 2-year-old to sample it as well. And thus, this Parmesan Panko Asparagus was born!
This recipe is actually akin to Asparagus Fries, with each piece boasting a crunchy, golden coating and a tender interior. The asparagus spears are dredged in seasoned flour, eggs, and a mixture of grated Parmesan and crispy panko bread crumbs, arranged on a rack, and then roasted in the oven at a high temperature for around 10 minutes. The result is a flavorful, wonderfully textured side dish or snack that's actually oven-baked and healthy, despite tasting fried.
My kids enjoyed dipping their asparagus spears in ketchup, à la regular French fries, because that's the way we roll around here. However, I can think of lots of alternative dipping sauces -- from garlicky aïoli to lemony Hollandaise to creamy horseradish -- that would be yummy. Or just enjoy these babies sans sauce! They're plenty flavorful perfectly plain and straight out of the oven.
I have to admit that I often get stuck in a rut when it comes to serving my family veggies. So it's nice to come up with a new recipe every so often that's a little bit different, easy to make, and downright delicious. Whether you're a fan of asparagus or about to become one thanks to this recipe (ha), Parmesan Panko Asparagus would be a perfect side dish to add to your rotation all spring and summer long. I think these spears would be tasty alongside burgers, grilled grub, steak, baked chicken, pork chops...the sky's the limit! Hope y'all love this new twist on asparagus. 🙂
Parmesan Panko Asparagus Recipe
Panko Parmesan Asparagus
Ingredients
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt, divided
- Freshly ground black pepper
- ¾ cup panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 pound asparagus, of medium thickness
Instructions
- Arrange oven racks to that they are in the center and second-lowest positions. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a 13- by 18-inch sheet pan with aluminum foil and top with a wire rack.
- Place flour in a shallow dish. Season with ½ teaspoon garlic salt and a generous amount of black pepper; whisk to combine. In a second shallow dish, beat eggs and season with remaining ½ teaspoon garlic salt and more black pepper. Mix together panko and Parmesan in a third shallow dish.
- Wash asparagus and trim off the tough ends. Working with a few pieces at a time, dredge in flour, then coat with eggs, and roll in panko/Parmesan mixture. Arrange asparagus on wire rack-topped baking sheet so that there's a little bit of space between each piece.
- Place baking sheet on the middle rack in the oven and bake for 7 minutes. Move baking sheet to the 2nd lowest rack and bake for 3 to 5 minutes more, or until asparagus are crispy and golden. Serve immediately.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
Notes
- Choose asparagus of average circumference for this recipe. If your asparagus is too thin, it will overcook and become mushy. If your asparagus is too thick, it won't adequately soften by the time the coating has browned.
- Cooking the asparagus on a rack set over a sheet pan, and moving the pan to a lower rack once almost done, will allow the asparagus to crisp up on all sides without burning on the top.
Adapted from Damn Delicious
More Spring & Summer Sides
- Roasted Asparagus with Brown Butter Pecans
- Carrot Apple Slaw
- Balsamic Roasted Tomatoes
- Tortellini Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Basil, & Fresh Corn
- Spring Salad with Mixed Berries, Candied Almonds, & Honey Citrus Vinaigrette
David Horowitz
I'm going to go ahead and give 5 stars - not trying to rain on you parade - but this recipe is insane. 3 dishes to bask in, and panko...great. My kids are running around the house like insane people and I have egg and flour and panko all over the place, and the counter is a mess. Why am I making this recipe?? Oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder will go on the asparagus next time, in the oven, boom done.
Someone had to say it, sorry.
Samantha Skaggs
Ha, David...there's no pressure to give stars or even make this recipe in the first place! I also fall back on roasted asparagus nine times out of ten, but this is a fun way to change it up when we want something different. And yes, seeing as how the traditional "breading method" requires three separate dishes, definitely avoid this recipe if you're going for minimal dirty dishes! 😉
Jennie
Delicious , will make a lot
Di
This was a delicious recipe... thanks so much!
Carleen
These were very, very good! I was out of Parmesan cheese so I used what I had on hand - a blend of cheddar, Colby and Monterrey jack cheeses. I didn't have a wire rack either so I lined the pan with foil and just laid them out on it and sprinkled the remaining Panko-cheese mixture I had over them before baking. In hind site, I should have sprayed the foil before I put them on there because it was a tricky task to remove them because of the types of cheese I used (but not impossible and they were very tasty). The cheese and Panko gave a wonderful crispiness to the dish and we loved every bite. I even took the extra crispies that were left in the pan and put them on my dogs' food, they loved it, too! Thanks for the great recipe!
Jaade48
Thanks for a nice quick way to make asparagus. Went well with my baked salmon and au gratin potatoes.
Alison
Sounds delicious! What kind of entrée would go well with this?
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Just about anything you like, Alison. 🙂 Ham, chicken, steak...something simple so as not to detract from such a yummy side! 😉
Carol at Wild Goose Mama
I love asparagus and I am always looking for different side veggie dishes. This is a BINGO in my book.
Great idea. The way I love asparagus, I will probably be just eating this and nothing else. Lol---I'm serious.
Samantha at Five Heart Home
No issues with that, Carol...I ate so many of these when I first made them that it pretty much ended up being a stand-alone meal -- ha! 😉 Thanks for stopping by and hope your week is going well!
Kristin
Oh my these look so yummy! I will definitely try them. I made asparagus and eggs this weekend, but I like this for something different 🙂
Samantha at Five Heart Home
I hope these are a hit with your crew, Kristin! Asparagus and eggs sounds like a yummy combo, too! I make a tart combining those ingredients, but I've never just served asparagus on the side with eggs. I'll have to try that next...thanks for the inspiration! 😉
Megan - The Emotional Baker
What a great way to prepare asparagus! I usually roast it or steam it, but it's always fun to switch things up!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thanks, Megan! This was a new preparation method for me as well, but one that we'll definitely be adding to the regular rotation. 😉 Hope you enjoy it if you have a chance to try it!