Grilled asparagus is delicious. Its smokey and delicate char make it way more than the side-dish position it's often relegated to. Even if you don't eat vegetables that often, a well done piece of grilled asparagus is something that will knock you back with flavour, and we're going to show you how exactly how that's done, with a simple collection of grilling tips.

How To Cook Asparagus on
The Grill

Asparagus Grilled with Foil

Prepare asparagus by trimming the woody ends, clean and coat in olive oil, add seasoning of choice and pack the asparagus spears inside a sheet of foil.

To do this: cut a large piece of foil, place the asparagus in the center, fold the foil so it covers the asparagus then fold the edges to make sure it's totally wrapped. Place the asparagus inside the foil on the grill over medium heat and cook until tender (about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the spears).

Serve with a a hit of fresh lemon juice.

Pro: Quick, clean and simple grilling technique.
Con: The asparagus will steam rather than roast so you won't enjoy the char of the grill.

Asparagus in a Grill Basket

^{image via Dad Cooks Dinner}

Using a grill basket is one of the best ways to cook asparagus on the grill. Not only will it prevent the spears from falling through the grates while you're in full heat mode, but you'll be able to enjoy the smokiness that the fire imparts on the vegetables: one of the main reasons for using the grill in the first place.

There are many different type of grill baskets on the market but look for one with large handles. You can use the grill basket to cook a multitude of vegetables like sliced peppers, zucchini and mushrooms.

Pros: Great smokey flavour, no chance of loosing spears.
Cons: Still missing the real, raw char of the grill.

Asparagus Right on The Grill

As with all grilled vegetables, you'll want to preheat the grill and make sure your asparagus is at room temperature before you throw it on. Coat the asparagus in olive oil and season well with salt and pepper and your favorite spices. Just pop those babies right on the grill, be careful to cross them the opposite way to the grill slits so they don't fall through and let the fire work its magic. You'll want to flip them so they cook evenly and on both sides.

Preapare Asparagus

It's important to remember to prepare asparagus before grilling, it needs to be washed well and you should trim the ends of the asparagus. This quick video illustrates the process and also shows you how to make a brilliant recipe for parmesan grilled asparagus.