Garlicky Asparagus with Mushrooms

This tasty veggie appetizer is inspired by the garlicky Spanish tapas dish, champiñones al ajillo, which relies on mushrooms alone. Asparagus makes it a more substantial dish, and benefits nicely from the dry red wine and other seasonings. This is traditionally served with slices of warm, fresh bread. And since you’ve already opened a bottle of red wine, serve it with this appetizer as well. Recipe adapted from Vegan Holiday Kitchen. Photos by Susan Voisin.

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Author: Nava

Recipe type: Appetizer

Cuisine: Healthy

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 15 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Serves: 6

This tasty veggie appetizer is inspired by the garlicky Spanish tapas dish, champiñones al ajillo, which relies on mushrooms alone. Asparagus makes it a more substantial dish, and benefits nicely from the dry red wine and other seasonings.

Ingredients

8 ounces asparagus
8 ounces mushrooms (cremini or baby bella with a smaller amount of shiitake is a nice combination)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 to 8 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
¼ cup dry red wine or sherry
Juice of ½ lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
½ teaspoon paprika, preferably smoked Spanish paprika, or more, to taste
Dried hot red pepper flakes to taste, optional
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
¼ cup minced fresh parsley

Instructions

Trim about an inch from the bottom of the asparagus stalks. Unless they’re nice and slender, peel the bottom halves with a vegetable peeler.
Clean the mushrooms, then stem and quarter them.
Heat the oil in a medium skillet. Add the garlic and sauté over low heat until golden. Add the mushrooms and asparagus, raise over high heat for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Lower the heat to medium and add the wine, lemon juice, dried chile and paprika. Cook for about 3 minutes longer, or just until the asparagus is tender-crisp and the mushrooms have softened.
Remove from the heat. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving platter, and sprinkle with the parsley. This is good served warm or at room temperature.

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Nutrition Information:
Per serving: 68.7 calories; 4.8g fat; 5.1g carbs; 1.9g fiber; 2.4g protein; 3.4mg sodium