Smoky, charred flavors of perfectly grilled asparagus mix with the airy goodness of lemony whipped ricotta for a deceptively simple dish that works great as a side or main!
I normally think of asparagus as a spring vegetable, but it’s all over the place right now – which is great for me, since it’s one of my favorites. And since I’ve been home for a whole week and change {this almost never happens – work has me hopping on 2-3 flights per week usually!}, I’ve seized the opportunity to stock up my kitchen with all kinds of fresh produce, including a bushel of fresh asparagus, and have been experimenting with great ways to cook them up.
Lemon and asparagus always seem to go together well, and my family loves it when I grill it with some butter and introduce a nice bit of Parmesan. But then I had a container of ricotta cheese that was calling me to figure out what to do with it, and I wondered what would happen if I combined asparagus with whipped ricotta, similar to some I enjoyed in a fantastic salad recently. Oh, and it’s summer, so let’s not just cook the asparagus, but throw it on the grill.
Just YUM!
There’s so much to like about this. It incorporates all kinds of fresh herby tastes, the brightness of lemon, and cheese, cheese, and cheese.
Which the two carnivorous man-creatures I live with were stealing off my plate. And while they don’t have the passion for veggies that I do, they still agreed the asparagus was top notch. I’ll take that as high praise from them.
Give this one a go at your next grill session. It works great as a shareable side, although when I’m not feeling like something heavy, I’ll have it as my dinner. And it pairs deliciously with a bright sparkling Moscato.
Grilled Asparagus with Whipped Lemon Ricotta
Ingredients
- 1 bunch fresh asparagus woody ends trimmed
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 each lemon zest and juice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- parsley for garnish fresh, chopped
- parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
- In a food processor or in a bowl with a fork, whip together the ricotta cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, and minced garlic. Blend until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside for now.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Toss the asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Place the asparagus directly on the grill and cook for 4-5 minutes, turning occasionally, until the asparagus is tender and has a nice char.
- Spread a generous layer of whipped ricotta on a serving platter or individual plates. Arrange the grilled asparagus on top of the whipped ricotta. Drizzle with a little extra olive oil and sprinkle with herbs, lemon zest, and parmesan. Enjoy!