Asparagus on the grill is a staple of early summer grilling, but it can also be one of the more frustrating items to barbecue.
Tending to a couple dozen individual spears of asparagus requires serious reflexes, and their long, pencil-like shape makes them prone to rolling around and slipping through the cooking grates into the nether regions of the grill.
If you don’t have a vegetable basket, one the easiest ways to cook asparagus on the barbecue is to thread several spears on to a couple of skewers like a raft. This prevents the asparagus from slipping through the cooking grates and also makes it easy to maneuver.
Grilled Asparagus Recipe
Prep Time
10
Minutes
Cook Time
5
Minutes
Ready In
15
Minutes
Yields
4
Servings
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
20 spears of asparagus
Materials
4 bamboo skewers (pre-soaked)
Directions
Step 1
Preheat the grill on medium-high.
Step 2
Trim off the tough ends of the asparagus.
Step 3
If the spears are large in diameter, we recommend peeling the asparagus with a Y-Peeler. The asparagus will cook more quickly and be more tender (optional).
Step 4
Perpendicular to the asparagus, thread the skewer through five spears at roughly the mid-point. Repeat for the remaining spears of asparagus.
Step 5
Using a pastry brush, apply a thin coating of olive oil to both sides of the asparagus and season with salt.
Step 6
Place the asparagus skewers on the hot grill and cook to desired tenderness, flipping at the halfway mark (about 2 minutes give or take). Large spears may take longer.
Check out our infographic guide to grilling vegetables to learn how to grill even more perfect veggies every time.
