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Not all recipes need to be difficult to taste good. Start with good ingredients, and any chef will end with a good product. The highlights of this dish are the unique spice and oil I used as well as the three colors of asparagus utilized. In reality, this recipe has only 4 ingredients. A smoky edge to this recipe is provided the use of smoky ingredients. I love to work with smoke. A Spanish Smoky Paprika Spice and a Smoked Olive Oil were added to the Smoky Tri-Color Asparagus to create the final recipe.
Smoky Tri-Color Asparagus
So I wondered what makes for the DIFFERENT COLORS OF ASPARAGUS? I learned a few things from this article. Green and white asparagus are of the same variety. The green asparagus gets plenty of light. The white asparagus is deprived of light. The purple asparagus is defined as a different variety yet the pulp of the stalk is either green or white. Interestingly, there is a Country of origin difference. The green variety is most prevalent and favored in the United States. The white variety is favored in Europe. The purple variety was developed in the Albenga region of Italy.
The Smoky Tri-Color Asparagus recipe comes together in less than 10 minutes. It begins with placing the asparagus on a baking tray. Next, the smoky oil and smoky Spanish paprika are poured on to the asparagus. Take your hands and mix and rub the oil and spice into the asparagus thoroughly. Then, to finish it off, simply place in a 325 degree oven and cook for 6 – 8 minutes. The thickness of the asparagus will determine if it needs any more cooking time than the 6 – 8 minutes.
The cast of characters.
The Spanish Smoked Paprika and the Smoked Olive Oil.
Smoked Spice and Smoked Oil
The asparagus spiced and oiled and ready for the oven.
Spice Added to Asparagus
The final Smoky Tri-Color Asparagus plated.
Smoky Tri-Color Asparagus Plated
- 1/2 pound each of green, white & purple asparagus
- 2 - 3 tablespoons smoked olive oil
- 1 - 2 tablespoons Spanish style smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon Kosher salt
- Wash and cut the asparagus.
- Pat dry and place on a baking tray.
- Add the smoked paprika, salt and smoked olive oil.
- Rub into the asparagus.
- Bake for 6 - 8 minutes in a 325 degree oven until tender.
- Serve and enjoy!
I too have never seen purple asparagus! What a great side dish! Just beautiful!
Thx so much Chrisina.
Perfect, simple and delicious! I’ve never tried purple asparagus before such a pretty color!
Thank you Debra.
This looks so good and full of flavor!
The spice is really good.
I love oven roasted asparagus but I’ve never tried it with paprika OR smoked olive oil! Definitely going to test this out… and I’m going to keep my eyes open for purple asparagus – haven’t seen it yet!
I have seen it very rarely. So you need to look really good.
I love asparagus in any color! I bet they taste wonderful smokey!
They really had good flavor and yes you could taste the smoke.
Oh wow! I’ve only seen green asparagus in the shops in the UK, so interesting to see the other colours alongside! I adore roasted asparagus.
I learned from my research that white asparagus is from Europe.
Simple, beautiful, healthy, and delicious! Love this recipe! I will be making this soon.
Please let me know if you do Katie.
Oh I’ve never seen the purple asparagus in the store! This is such a simple and beautifully seasoned dish!
Thank you Angela.