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Asparagus al Ajillo
🇪🇸 Spanish Vegetarian

Asparagus al Ajillo

🇪🇸 Spanish

Sizzling in oil with sliced garlic and dried chili — al ajillo, Spain's greatest small plate. Ready in 17 minutes including prep.

Prep 10 min Cook 7 min Serves 3 Easy

Ingredients

  • Saltto taste
  • Garlic4 cloves, minced
  • Dried Red Chilies3
  • Bell Pepper1, sliced
  • Tomato Sauce2 tbsp
  • Olive Oil2 tbsp
  • Spring Onions3, cut into batons
  • Asparagus400 g
  • Smoked Paprika1 tsp

Optional extras

  • Fresh Parsleyhandful, to finish

Instructions

  1. 1

    Warm the olive oil in a wide paella pan or heavy skillet over medium heat until it flows easily.

  2. 2

    Sear the Asparagus until golden on all sides, then push it to the edges of the pan.

  3. 3

    Soften Garlic in the middle of the pan, adding Smoked Paprika after a few minutes, building a sofrito — low and slow, five full minutes.

  4. 4

    Season with paprika and salt and stir for thirty seconds so the paprika blooms without scorching.

  5. 5

    Add the liquid, bring to a confident simmer, and let everything cook until the Asparagus is done and the sauce has thickened and glossed.

  6. 6

    Rest off the heat for five minutes, finish with lemon wedges and parsley, and serve from the pan.

Chef's tip

For deeper flavour, toast the smoked paprika in the oil before adding anything wet.

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Watch how it's made

Video: CRISPY Garlic Asparagus | A Dish You Won't be Able to Resist · on YouTube