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    Home » Side Dishes » Air Fryer Lemon Tahini Asparagus

    Air Fryer Lemon Tahini Asparagus

    Published: Feb 17, 2022 · Modified: Mar 12, 2023 by Elaine · This post may contain Amazon affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This blog generates income via ads · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    image with text for air fryer lemon tahini asparagus
    Image with text overlay for Lemon Tahini Air Fryer Asparagus with hemp hearts.
    image with text for air fryer lemon tahini asparagus

    This air fryer lemon tahini asparagus recipe makes tender-crisp asparagus drizzled with lemon tahini sauce and sprinkled with crunchy hemp hearts! This post outlines what temperature to use and how long to roast asparagus in an air fryer. It also includes oven-roasting instructions.

    a platter of asparagus spears with lemon tahini sauce and hemp hearts

    What is consistently delicious with asparagus? Lemon sauce! This recipe combines the two with the added benefit of a drizzle of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich lemon tahini!

    Asparagus has a mild, slightly bitter flavour. It pairs well with citrus juices or other strong flavours like miso. I often make this Charred Asparagus with Warm Citrus Sauce or this Sesame Miso Air Fryer Asparagus, but today I'm pairing it with lemon tahini!

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
    • 🛒 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • Air fryer cooking time and temperature
    • Oven roasting time and temperature
    • 🔁 Possible Variations
    • 👍🏼 Helpful Tips
    • ❓Reader's Questions
    • 🍽 What to serve with Asparagus and Lemon Tahini
    • ⏰ Storage Instructions
    • More delicious asparagus recipes
    • 🗒 More healthy side dish recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

    • A quick side dish! Whether you air fry asparagus spears or roast them in the oven, this is a side dish that takes very little time to make.
    • Nutritious! Here's a healthy side of asparagus with a tart lemon tahini sauce.
    • Easy clean-up! No pots or pans to scrub.
    • Flavour! The tangy and nutty flavors of tahini and lemon pair perfectly with fresh crisp asparagus, and protein-packed hemp hearts add a satisfying crunch!

    🛒 Ingredients

    You'll find a complete list of ingredients with amounts in the recipe card below. But before we get to the full recipe, here are a few notes about the key ingredients.

    • asparagus: choose thicker spears between ½ to ¾ inch in diameter for air frying or roasting. The pencil-thin spears can quickly become overcooked.
    • lemon tahini dressing: see my 5-minute recipe for Simple Lemon Tahini Dressing.
    • hemp hearts: for garnish. These little seeds add plant protein, Omegas 3 and 6, and essential amino acids. They're not only nutritious, but they also add a delicious layer of crunchiness to this lemon asparagus side dish!
    raw asparagus spears and a small jug with lemon tahini sauce

    🔪 Instructions

    Here's an overview of what you'll do to make this recipe perfectly. You'll find complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.

    Start by making the lemon tahini dressing. Set it aside on the counter at room temperature.

    Trim the asparagus spears. Snap off the tough, woody ends where they naturally bend, or slice them off with a sharp knife. Save them to add to asparagus soup.

    Toss the spears with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

    Preheat your air fryer then arrange the spears in a single layer in the basket. Air fry for 5 minutes, check, then continue cooking for 2 - 3 minutes or until the tspears are barely crisp-tender. Transfer to a serving dish, drizzle them with lemon tahini dressing, sprinkle with hemp hearts and serve hot.

    asparagus spears on a cutting board
    1. Wash asparagus.
    asparagus spears with woody ends removed
    2. Remove tough part of spears. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper.
    asparagus spears in an air fryer
    3. Arrange in a single layer in a preheated air fryer.
    asparagus with lemon tahini sauce
    4. Air fry, then drizzle with lemon tahini dressing and sprinkle with hemp hearts.

    Air fryer cooking time and temperature

    After preheating at 360°F. for 3 minutes, air fry for 5 minutes. Remove the basket to check, then shake or use tongs to flip the spears over. Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes or so. The time needed will depend on the thickness of the asparagus spears. They should be barely fork-tender when done.

    Oven roasting time and temperature

    To roast the spears in the oven, preheat a rimmed baking sheet at 450°F. Toss the spears with olive oil, salt and pepper. Arrange them in a single layer, then roast for 8 to 10 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting the tip of a paring knife in the base of one of the largest spears. It should meet slight resistance. Return to the oven to cook a little longer if they're not quite ready.

    Once they're done, transfer them to a serving dish, drizzle with lemon tahini sauce and sprinkle with hemp hearts. So tender and so good!

    asparagus on a baking sheet
    To roast instead of air fry, spread in a single layer on a baking sheet.

    🔁 Possible Variations

    You can substitute toasted flaked almonds or finely chopped pistachios for the hemp hearts if you like.

    👍🏼 Helpful Tips

    If the stalks of the asparagus are tough, peel the lower half with a vegetable peeler. While roasting or air frying asparagus brings out its best flavour, delicate asparagus spears may become a little tough. Remove any parts that look like they might prevent the spears from becoming crisp-tender.

    ❓Reader's Questions

    Should I be eating more asparagus?


    The short answer is: Yes!

    Asparagus has many health benefits! It's low in calories, but high in fiber, essential vitamins and minerals.

    It's a rich source of glutathione which may help fight several types of cancer.
    Not only that, asparagus is one of the top-ranked vegetables for its anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties (and who doesn't want that?)

    Did you know asparagus may also keep our brains sharp? It contains folate which, along with B12 may help with cognitive decline, especially after the age of 50.

    And one more benefit: It's also a natural diuretic, which leads to the next question=>

    Does asparagus make your "pee" smell?

    Asparagus, particularly the young shoots, contains a compound that, when metabolized, may give off a distinctive smell in the urine in some people. However, it's harmless, and not all people can detect it. The benefit of increased urination helps to rid your body of excess salts.

    You can read more about the health benefits in this article, 5 Powerful Health Benefits of Asparagus You Probably Didn't Know.

    Air fryer asparagus with lemon tahini sauce and hemp hearts

    🍽 What to serve with Asparagus and Lemon Tahini

    This air fryer asparagus with lemon tahini goes well with almost any protein, and it's particularly good with salmon. Try it with any of the following favourites!

    • Crispy Fennel Crusted Salmon
    • Keto Pistachio Crusted Salmon
    • Easiest Chicken Saltimbocca
    • Instant Pot Sticky Chicken Thighs
    • Crock-pot Sticky Chicken

    ⏰ Storage Instructions

    Air-fried or roasted asparagus is best eaten fresh, but you can store leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for a few days. I'd suggest reheating them in a skillet on the stovetop.

    More delicious asparagus recipes

    • Asparagus Salad with Smoked Salmon and Sesame Miso Vinaigrette
    • Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Prawns with Asparagus
    • Charred Asparagus with Warm Citrus Sauce
    • Dairy-Free Creamy Asparagus Soup
    • 5-Minute Sesame Asparagus
    • Sesame Miso Air Fryer Asparagus
    • Skillet Asparagus with Easy Lemon Garlic Aioli

    🗒 More healthy side dish recipes

    • grilled blue cheese potatoes in foil.
      Crispy Grilled Potatoes with Blue Cheese in Foil
    • A jar filled with quick refrigerator pickled beans.
      Quick Refrigerator Pickled Beans
    • Overhead view of Mango Black Bean Salad
      Mango Black Bean Salad with Lemon Lime Vinaigrette
    • A bowl of asparagus topped with lemon aioli and lemon wedges.
      Quick Skillet Asparagus with Easy Lemon Garlic Aioli

    When you make this recipe for asparagus with lemon sauce, please leave a comment and a rating below. I love hearing from you! Thanks in advance. Subscribe to my newsletter and receive new recipes delivered straight to your inbox once a week.

    📖 Recipe

    asparagus spears with lemon tahini dressing and hemp hearts

    Lemon Tahini Asparagus

    This air fryer lemon tahini asparagus recipe makes tender-crisp asparagus drizzled with lemon tahini sauce and sprinkled with crunchy hemp hearts!
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Vegetable Side Dish
    Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 8 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 7 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 87kcal
    Author: Elaine
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    1 Air Fryer (or oven)

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound fresh asparagus spears
    • 3 tablespoons simple lemon tahini dressing
    • 1 ½ tablespoons hemp hearts or flaked almonds, or finely chopped pistachios
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil, extra virgin
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

    Instructions

    Air Fryer Lemon Tahini Asparagus

    • Snap off (or slice) the woody portion of the asparagus spears. Save to make soup.
    • Wash the spears and pat them dry. Toss with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
    • Preheat your air fryer then arrange the spears in a single layer in the basket. Air fry for 5 minutes, check, then continue for 2 - 3 minutes or until spears are barely crisp-tender. Transfer to a serving dish, drizzle with lemon tahini dressing, sprinkle with hemp hearts and serve hot.

    Oven Roasted Lemon Tahini Asparagus

    • To roast the spears in the oven, preheat a rimmed baking sheet at 450°F. for aobut 5 minutes. Toss the asparagus with olive oil, salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer, then roast for 8 to 10 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting the tip of a paring knife in the base of one of the largest spears. It should meet slight resistance.
    • Transfer to a serving dish, drizzle with lemon tahini sauce and sprinkle with hemp hearts.

    Notes

    If the stalks of the asparagus are tough, peel the lower half with a vegetable peeler. While roasting or air frying asparagus brings out its best flavour, delicate asparagus spears may become a little tough. Remove any parts that look like they might prevent the spears from becoming crisp-tender.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 87kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 148mg | Potassium: 231mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 887IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @enessman or tag #flavourandsavour!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Becca

      February 28, 2022 at 9:45 pm

      5 stars
      Made this last night and we loved it! I took your advice and sprinkled hemp hearts on top. A nice touch!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        March 01, 2022 at 9:10 am

        Thanks for commenting, Becca!

        Reply

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