Asparagus is a versatile and nutritious vegetable that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways - but there's one cooking method that will take it to the next level.09:59, 05 Jul 2026Love it or hate it, asparagus is a nutritional powerhouse that frequently appears on our dinner plates – particularly during spring, when the British harvest season commences. Whether you purchase the green spears from your local supermarket or seek them out at a food market, there are countless ways to savour them.‌Sadly, this vegetable has earned itself something of a poor reputation because many people have a tendency to overcook it, especially when boiling.‌By leaving the thin, tender, delicate stalks over heat for an excessive amount of time, you'll compromise flavour, colour, and nutritional value.‌Whether you go too far by boiling, steaming, or roasting asparagus beyond what's needed, it can rapidly become mushy, lacklustre in colour, and watery.To extract the very best from this vegetable, recipe creator Julia Maz has turned to her Instagram page and recipe blog Eat Something Vegan to reveal her crispy smashed asparagus.Content cannot be displayed without consent‌For this technique, Julia prefers to blanch the asparagus before roasting it in the oven for a brief period.She said, "Forget boring greens! This crispy smashed asparagus is all about that golden crunch and zero guilt. A quick 20-minute recipe that's a little bit 'naughty' but totally wholesome. You'll never look at asparagus the same way again."Ingredients (serves four)450g of asparagus, woody ends trimmed22g of olive oilOne tablespoon of nutritional yeastOne teaspoon of garlic powderHalf a teaspoon of smoked paprikaHalf a teaspoon of salt, to tasteQuarter teaspoon of black pepper, to taste‌MethodBegin by preheating your oven to 200C/180C Fan before trimming those woody ends off the asparagus and blanching them in salted water for precisely two minutes.Immediately plunge them into an ice bath for one minute to preserve that vibrant green hue. Pat them completely dry with kitchen paper. Any remaining moisture is "an enemy of the crunch".Lay your dried asparagus on a flat surface. Using the flat base of a glass, press down firmly on each spear until it's beautifully flattened and crushed. This is what forms all those little crevices and ridges for the seasonings to nestle into.‌In a small bowl, combine the nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix it thoroughly so the seasonings are evenly distributed. This is the "secret to that even, golden crust".Move the flattened asparagus to a lined baking sheet. Coat each one with olive oil and scatter liberally with your seasoning blend.Now, turn them over and do the same on the opposite side. You want taste in every single mouthful.Article continues belowPosition the spears in a single layer (allow them some space). Bake in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes until the edges are golden and beautifully charred.Allow them to rest for two minutes after removing them. This enables the crust to set and "reach maximum crispiness".