Roasted Asparagus With Crunchy Parmesan Topping

Total Time: 24 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 14 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, preferably homemade
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
• 1 1/2 lbs asparagus
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• salt & freshly ground black pepper

Recipe

• 1 heat the oven to 450 degrees. combine the bread crumbs and parmesan.
• 2 rinse asparagus and break off woody bottoms. peel if thick. lay stalks in a baking dish that will hold them in two or three layers. if the asparagus are thick, add a splash of water. drizzle with the olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper; place in oven.
• 3 roast until the asparagus are tender, 10 to 12 minutes. test for doneness by piercing a spear with point of a sharp knife; it should slide in but meet a little resistance. (up to this point, the recipe can be made as much as two hours before serving; just leave asparagus at room temperature.).
• 4 turn on broiler and place rack as close as possible to heating element. top asparagus with cheese-crumb mixture and run under broiler to brown for 1-2 minutes. serve hot or at room temperature.