Broiled Asparagus With Cotija Cheese Recipe

Sweet, charred asparagus gets tossed with sharp, crumbly Cotija.

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
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Updated May. 11, 2022
Broiled asparagus in a bowl, dusted with cotija.
Photographs: J. Kenji López-Alt. Video: Vicky Wasik

Why This Recipe Works

  • Broiling asparagus stalks chars them in a relatively short time, keeping their centers pleasantly crisp.
  • Tossing the asparagus stalks with oil prevents them from drying out and helps them cook efficiently.

Broiling is a great method for preparing asparagus, and one I addressed in my larger guide to asparagus. Here's what I had to say in that story:

Very similar to grilling, the key here is to use crazy high heat to maximize caramelization while still maintaining a pleasant crispness. The best way to do this is to use a relatively heavy rimmed baking sheet which you allow to preheat for at least 10 minutes or so in a 500°F oven on the bottom rack. Toss your asparagus with a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper, and throw it on the pan. If everything went right (and there should be no reason it didn't), the asparagus will sizzle and start browning as soon as it hits the pan. Alternatively, place the stalks on a rimmed baking sheet a few inches away from a broiler element heated to high. A few minutes in the oven, and you're good to go. Sprinkle with some lemon or a nice sharp grating cheese. Parm works, Pecorino is better, Cotija is just plain cool.
0:51

How to Buy and Prep Asparagus

May 2011

Recipe Details

Broiled Asparagus With Cotija Cheese Recipe

Active 10 mins
Total 10 mins
Serves 4 servings

Sweet, charred asparagus gets tossed with sharp, crumbly Cotija.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 ounces Cotija cheese, crumbled

  • 1 lime, cut into wedges

Directions

  1. Preheat broiler to high. Toss asparagus, oil, and 2/3 of cheese in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Broil 2 inches from element until tender and well charred, 4 to 8 minutes total, shaking occasionally. Transfer to a bowl, toss with remaining cheese and serve with lime wedges.

Special Equipment

Rimmed baking sheet

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
142 Calories
11g Fat
7g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 142
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 3g 17%
Cholesterol 14mg 5%
Sodium 372mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 7g 3%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 14mg 68%
Calcium 145mg 11%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 289mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)