Try this flavourful smoked asparagus on a Traeger grill or pellet smoker and you’re sure to be impressed. Asparagus is always delicious and it’s a versatile vegetable, suiting anything from stir-fries to soups and side dishes. The following smoked vegetable recipe is simple to make and boasts a buttery, lemon flavour as well as the wonderful smokiness. This asparagus side dish is always a BBQ hit!
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This smoked asparagus side dish pairs with anything from fish to chicken, steak or pork. It’s a wonderful side dish made on a smoker and you can expect plenty of smoky appeal in every bite.
Flavourful Smoked Asparagus Ingredients
Of course the main ingredient in this smoked vegetable recipe is the asparagus. This healthy vegetable comes in different varieties including white asparagus and purple asparagus. You can use either of those but I just used the regular green kind.
I recommend using medium to thick asparagus spears for this side dish made on a smoker, since the very skinny ones would be soft before the smoke has imparted much flavour. If you want to try another kind of asparagus, go ahead, and then let me know how it turns out! Also, I suggest you check out how to cook asparagus for details on prepping and cleaning.
You also need oil, salt, lemon pepper, lemon juice, butter, and garlic. Each of these ingredients goes beautifully with the flavourful smoked asparagus.
If you don’t have lemon pepper you can just use regular black pepper instead. The asparagus gets plenty of lemon flavour from the lemon juice. You can use fresh or bottled lemon juice, as you prefer. As for the garlic, use either freshly minced garlic cloves or the garlic paste you can get bottled or in a tube.
I find the minced garlic really handy and it keeps for a long time but check the packaging before you buy it because some have sugar in and I am not so keen on those. Look for pure garlic and oil as the only ingredients.
How to Make this Asparagus Side Dish
First of all, preheat your Traeger grill or pellet smoker. You can use mesquite pellets in there or any other kind you like.
I expect hickory would also be really good here or pecan or applewood. Maple wood would be really nice too if you can find it.
While the Traeger grill or pellet smoker is warming up, you can prepare the asparagus. Either cut the pale ends off or snap them off. You’ll find they naturally snap off at the point where the tender part turns into the woody part.
Now you can put the asparagus in a bowl with the oil, salt and lemon pepper. Mix the lemon juice with the butter and garlic in a pan. Now you can smoke the asparagus as well as the mixture in the pan. Brush some of the lemon juice mixture over the asparagus after half an hour then serve hot with the remaining lemon butter mixture.
Health Benefits of Asparagus
Not only is this a very flavourful smoked asparagus recipe but it’s also a healthy one. Asparagus is rich in vitamins and minerals as well as antioxidants. It boasts vitamins A, C and K, as well as folate, potassium, phosphorous, and trace amounts of zinc, riboflavin and iron. There is plenty of fiber in there too, so it’s good for your digestion.
Flavourful Smoked Asparagus FAQs
You can make it ahead and warm it back up if you want. Another idea is to enjoy it cold as part of a salad, such as this kale and potato salad.
However, this smells so amazing on the Traeger grill or pellet smoker, I don’t think you’ll be able to resist eating this asparagus side dish straight away!
This side dish made on a smoker is completely vegan-friendly if you swap the butter for your favourite vegan butter alternative.
Although butter, lemon and garlic are wonderful with asparagus, you might be looking for a different result. You can swap the lemon juice for lime juice and add a pinch of chipotle chilli powder for a Tex-Mex flavour. Another idea would be sprinkling some feta cheese on top before serving, for a Greek flavour.
Flavourful Smoked Asparagus Recipe
Flavourful Smoked Asparagus
Ingredients
- 2 Bunches asparagus
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Teaspoon lemon pepper
- 2 lemons juiced
- 4 Tablespoon salted butter
- 1 Teaspoon garlic paste
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker lid closed for 15 minutes at 200 degrees F.
- Trim the pale end off of the asparagus and discard.
- Add asparagus to a large bowl.
- Toss asparagus with olive oil, salt, and lemon pepper.
- Combine lemon juice, butter, and garlic paste in a small saucepan.
- Add to a grill pan and place the asparagus and saucepan into the smoker for 1 hour.
- After 30 minutes, brush asparagus with smoked butter from the saucepan.
- Remove from the smoker and plate. Pour remaining butter over asparagus.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
You can’t beat this flavourful smoked asparagus side dish made on a smoker. It’s a delicious smoked vegetable recipe boasting the flavours of lemon and garlic, as well as a rich, smoky flavour which pairs with any kind of protein, such as chicken or steak.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella is a storyteller, food lover, dog mom and adventure seeker living on the Pacific coast. She shares her passion for recipes, dogs, sustainability, adventures, travel and philanthropy, in hopes of encouraging followers to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places and stand for a cause. Bella lives with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease.
Bella Bucchiotti is a freelance food, travel, and lifestyle writer for MSN and the Associated Press Wire.
Yum! Always love your smoker recipes