Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Vinegar

I love oven roasted asparagus and usually just fix it with olive oil, salt, pepper, and sometimes a splash of lemon. I've tried slicing up some garlic and tossing it in, but didn't really get much flavor from it. As I was looking through Epicurious the other day for other asparagus recipes, I found one using Balsamic vinegar. Well, I love Balsamic vinegar, so decided to try it the next time I was craving asparagus. But I still wanted some garlic flavor, if possible. And I found a way! I thought of the garlic infused olive oil that I make sometimes for garlic bread and decided to try it, and it worked! In a small glass bowl, I poured about 2 Tbs. olive oil, and then using the garlic press, I pressed 2 cloves of garlic into the oil. I just let it sit a couple of hours before time to make dinner. The longer it sets, the better the garlic flavor! The first step is to wash the asparagus. Then, dry well so that it doesn't steam when baking.

At dinner time, I placed the asparagus on a baking sheet, drizzled it with garlic oil and added kosher salt and coarse ground pepper. I looks so good, doesn't it? Stick the pan in a hot oven

and prepare to enjoy the aroma that will be enveloping your kitchen! Oh, it smells so good! Let it roast 10-15 minutes until tender, but be sure to take the asparagus out of the oven before the garlic gets too brown. What I had was luscious, tender asparagus that was slightly caramelized and infused with a wonderful hint of garlic! Then, I topped it off with Balsamic vinegar. Yum! It was a nice change to my favorite asparagus.
Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Vinegar

1 pound of asparagus, with ends snapped, washed and dried

1-2 cloves of garlic, pressed or minced

2 Tbs. olive oil ( or more, according to your preference)

kosher salt

pepper

1 Tbs. Balsamic Vinegar

Combine olive oil and garlic in a glass bowl and let set at room temperature for several hours, if possible.

Preheat oven to 425.

Place snapped asparagus on baking sheet.

Drizzle with the garlic infused olive oil

Add kosher salt and coarse ground pepper

Place pan in oven and bake for 10-15 minutes until tender when pierced with a fork and slightly caramelized

Remove from oven and transfer to serving dish and splash with 1 Tbs. Balsamic Vinegar

Enjoy! What is your favorite way to enjoy asparagus?