Is it weird to be in love with a vegetable that makes your pee smell horrifically bad? Is it weird to talk about urine on a food blog?
Probably and yes, huh?
Too bad.
Asparagus is one of my all time favorite vegetables and my absolute favorite one to roast. Around this time of year when it’s almost in season, I go kind of nuts and it ends up on our dinner plates at least twice a week. It’s one of the few vegetables that I can distinctly taste a difference in (and not in a good way) when I buy it out of season, so I make sure to take full advantage of it for the couple of months it’s good.
If you’ve read the book Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant, (which is a collection of short stories) there’s a chapter about a woman named Phoebe who eats asparagus every day for two months in an attempt to become an “asparagus superhero”. I sort of feel like Phoebe every March through May (I’m starting a little early this year). A superhero cape would be way cooler than an apron in the kitchen.
Asparagus is the perfect vegetable to turn into a fry by baking. In fact, it came out better than any of my attempts with potatoes which never get as crispy as I want. Ever.
Plus, I found a killer deal for panko breadcrumbs last weekend and I’m pretty much putting them on and in everything I can.
They’re coated in a lemon, dijon egg bath and then rolled in panko + more lemon.
And if that’s not enough, serve them with a lemon dijon aioli.
It’s like spring has sprung inside your mouth with every bite.
- 1 bunch of asparagus, washed, ends trimmed and cut in half
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
- zest of 1 lemon
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- salt & pepper
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with baking spray.
- Combine egg, dijon and lemon juice in a shallow bowl, whisk together.
- Combine breadcrumbs, lemon zest, red pepper and salt & pepper in a dish and mix together.
- Coat asparagus first in egg mixture and then in breadcrumb mixture. Line up on baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 minutes until breadcrumbs have turned golden brown and asparagus still has some “bite” left to it.
- Serve warm out of the oven.
- While asparagus bake, combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together.
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
These look so tasty and fresh! I think I’d add parmesan too with the lemon. I’m usually too cheap to buy asparagus.
I came *this close* to adding parmesan. I’m sure they would be great with it too!
Why has it never occurred to me to make asparagus fries?! These sound amazing!
Did you like Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant? I’ve seen it a few times at my local bookstore and always considered picking it up.
honestly, it was an ok book. I love food memoir types of books and I had high hopes for this one. It was cute, some of the stories were way better than others but nothing great. I did like how the short story set up of it made for quick chapters and good stopping points though.
I’ve done green bean fries but never asparagus, which I need to change STAT. I’m already imagining the crispy tender goodness.
My first thought is kinda weird: while asparagus does change the smell of my pee, I don’t necessarily find it to smell horrific! Maybe it affects different people with different smells? LOL who knows..
And also, even if it did smell horrific, these would so be worth it
you had me at dijon..and asparagus. I’m just like you..i LOVE asparagus and I don’t care if my pee smells all funky. It’s worth it and it’s healthy! The dijon sauce would be so super yummy paired with these, I love that you made fries out of asparagus — it’s both healthy & guiltless!
Yes I’ve experienced that classic pee smell form asparagus. Startling at first haha!
Yes, very. Although it doesn’t even compare to what beets do. I thought I was dying the first time I experienced THAT!
So did I. I actually had a moment of panic. Now when I make beets I remind everyone not to panic in the morning.
Yum, plus I will eat anything if it comes with aioli
I think asparagus is underrated too.
I totally agree – best vegetable to roast (well maybe other than brussel sprouts).
And yeah – asparagus pee is the weirdest thing ever. I read once that only 23% (? or some number) of humans have the gene that causes that to happen… SO strange.
I heard that once too and want to know what’s really weird… It didn’t happen to me until like 3 years ago. It’s like my asparagus gene mutated or something!
Hahahahaha – that’s SO weird!! I feel like I didn’t notice it until several years ago too…what the heck!
Looks fantastic! I have been on an asparagus kick lately, and roasting them is so good! But you Lemon Dijon Aioli sauce sounds amazing!!! Great healthy dish!
Oooh, I love the pictures in this post!! All this asparagus gets me very excited for spring (the smelly pee, not so much).
I wasn’t prepared to be reading about urine. made me laugh. The asparagus looks great!
Keeping you on your toes
Eeeee. I love asparagus fries!! My Asparagus-Hero.
I’ve seen asparagus fries and varies breaded “fries” recently and I need to try them. The closest I got was sweet potato fries that I breaded, which turned out like little french toast sticks. Love that you said these got really crispy!
Oh. man. This. looks. AMAZING.
Why oh why have I never done this through my life long love affair with asparagus??? This is officially on the menu tonight
What a great idea – asparagus and Dijon mustard. This would go great with my Dijon and roasted tomatoes salmon dish! Gotta love the pee smell haha!
You are too funny! Actually, I don’t care how much asparagus makes my pee smell bad because it is delicious. This recipe is great and I love the aioli!
I’ve been going crazy with panko lately too, my mother-in-law got me a big box from costco and now it’s all I can think about. Looooove that you put it on asparagus – I can’t wait to try that!
Asparagus = love. I’ve been planning on experimenting with asparagus fries. I mean, there’s eggplant fries, zucchini fries, sweet potato fries…. I’m glad we’re finally showing asparagus the love it deserves! Looks yummy – can’t wait to try it!
Beautiful pictures! Aaaand I’m one of those people whose pee smells funny when I eat asparagus.
I love asparagus ! These looks so tasty.
This looks pretty amazing!!!
We LOVE asparagus at our house, a feat since Mike is so picky about veggies. I am always looking for news ways to prepare so these look insanely delish.
i absolutely LOVE asparagus. And yes, it is totally weird to talk about urine on the internet.
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