Asparagus Dipping Sauce | Tangerine Aioli

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Best Dipping Sauce for Asparagus

Looking for an easy sauce for asparagus? This homemade tangerine aioli is the BEST asparagus dipping sauce.  It is made in just a few minutes, requires less than a handful of ingredients and is absolutely delicious.  I lightly coat each roasted asparagus spear with the aioli and then serve some extra on the side for dipping – for the extra-saucy people in the back. 

This cold asparagus appetizer with dip recipe is from my childhood.  I don’t recall knowing or loving asparagus until the first encounter with roasted asparagus covered in tangerine aioli.  But since that first time when my mom made it for a holiday dinner, asparagus has taken the number one spot as my favorite vegetable.  That being said, this is a recipe near and dear to me and I am happy to share it in hopes that you also love it – and that it makes asparagus YOUR favorite vegetable too!

In the notes section below I will recommend some ingredient alternatives and recipe variations that you may be interested in trying. 

Aioli is simply homemade mayonnaise with garlic.  Making mayonnaise or aioli from scratch may seem intimidating or complicated, but I ensure you that it is not!  All it takes is a little patience and a lot of arm stamina for whisking, and you got the real stuff just like that! 

This is also a great dipping sauce for fried asparagus, but the aioli would be served as a side condiment rather than used to coat the asparagus.

Listed below are also instructions for roasting asparagus, other various cooking methods, cook times and temperatures.  

If you’re looking to add a side dish that has uniqueness and character, read on to learn more about this homemade asparagus dipping sauce mayo.

Yields: 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients:

• 2 large egg yolks
• 1/2 garlic clove, minced or pressed through garlic crusher
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1Tbsp fresh tangerine
• 1 tsp zest from tangerine
• Salt

Instructions:

1. Using a handheld mixer or a whisk, combine the yolks and garlic in a large bowl.  
2. Continue mixing as you begin to incorporate the oil at an extremely slow rate – almost drop by drop.  To insure against breaking, add oil only about every other second for about 60 seconds, mixing continuously.   When the consistency becomes thick and fluffy, add the oil in a steadier stream.  Mix until the oil has emulsified into the egg mixture. 
3. Add the tangerine juice, zest and salt to taste.  You can thin out the mayo with more tangerine juice or water.  Feel free to adjust liquid to create the consistency of your liking and to match what ever you are pairing this aioli with. 

* If your mayo starts to look thin and oily instead of creamy and fluffy, you don’t need to throw it away. Simply set aside what you’ve done and start over.  Once you’ve gotten the new mixture to emulsify, whisk the old batch in to the new.  Add more juice, zest and salt to taste. 

Roasted asparagus:

• 1 bunch of young asparagus
• Olive oil
• Salt 

How to cook asparagus:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cut the ends off the asparagus if they are pale in color, thick and woody.  Cut up to a portion of the spear that is green and tender. 
3. Wash and dry the produce.
4. Place asparagus spears on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and roll them around to evenly coat, then sprinkle sea salt over the top.
5. Cook in the oven for 15 minutes, if they are on the small/slender side.  If they are larger cook until tender. 
6. Remove and allow to cool.  After the asparagus is close to room temperature, coat them lightly in the tangerine aioli and serve with extra aioli on the side.  Finish with Maldon finishing salt and crack black pepper – if you like it. Garnish with tangerine and/or lemon slices and optional grated parmesan cheese.

Notes:

The various cooking methods for asparagus are blanching, pan-frying, air-frying, deep-frying and roasting or baking. 

Frying asparagus: Typically, one of the fried cooking methods is chosen if the asparagus is breaded and the intention is for crispy asparagus.   The only way to get the asparagus crispy is by breading and frying it so that the fried breading gives the crispy element.  The inside will always be soft and tender when cooked.   You can pan-fry in oil, deep fry or air fry. Air frying is used for a healthy version that omits oil altogether.  

Blanching- In this method, the asparagus is dropped in boiling water for just a minute then removed and immediately submerged in an ice bath in order to stop the cooking process.  This helps to keep the asparagus from becoming over cooked and mushy.  It also preserves the bright green color. Blanched asparagus with dipping sauce is a great variation and is one of the health conscious options.  

Oven roasted asparagus- This is the method outlined in the instructions above.  Also called baked asparagus, this is a healthy and easy option.  Set the temperature on the oven, lightly coat in olive oil and throw on a backing sheet and in the oven! Often times people are looking to use this method and achieve “crispy roasted asparagus”.  However – crispy roasted asparagus is a bit of an oxymoron because asparagus cannot get crispy being cooked in the oven.  It turns tender and soft but it doesn’t have an element of crisp to it.  The only way to achieve a crispy element is to coast in a breading and fry the asparagus in oil, so you can get the crispiness from the fried bread crumbs.

FAQ:

How long to cook asparagus at 425? Keep in mind that the cook time is variable depending on the size of the asparagus.  Some asparagus is what I call “shoe string” and doesn’t need much time at all, while some is mega thick and will need more time.  Take the number below and let that be your first check point. When checking, you are looking for fork tenderness.  When it is tender, it is complete.  Sign of over cooking- shrunken and wrinkly, blackened and with the green color having faded to a brownish/yellow tone rather than bright, deep and vibrant. So if you’re wondering how long to bake asparagus, see the chart below.

Temperature/time table: for medium sized spears

• Oven roasted asparagus 350: 15 minutes
• Oven roasted asparagus 375: 11 minutes 
• Oven roasted asparagus 400: 8 minutes

*For skinny shoe string variety – first check at 5 minutes. 

How to make crispy asparagus?

Bread the outside of the asparagus and fry in an air fryer, or in a heavy bottomed pan with an inch or two of vegetable oil. Fry at 370 degrees F (using a candy thermometer for stovetop frying). Cook until golden brown.

How to make asparagus crispy not soggy?

The longer you cook asparagus the softer and more tender it becomes.  If you extend the cook time it will inevitably become soggy or mushy.  Don’t over cook and if you’re trying to get crispy asparagus follow the breading and frying method noted above. 

Secret to crispy roasted vegetables:

Typically, the secret to crispy roasted vegetables is high enough heat, extended cook time and oil or fat on the vegetables.  However for asparagus, it will not become crispy, it will just become softer and more tender and if you try to make it crispy with a longer cook time or higher temp it will become over-cooked. 

More asparagus dipping sauce recipes:

• Lemon dipping sauce for asparagus
• Honey mustard sauce for asparagus
• Sour cream dip for asparagus
• Lemon mayo sauce for asparagus

Healthy asparagus dinner recipes:

• Roasted asparagus and potatoes
• Roasted asparagus with parmesan
• Roasted asparagus and mushrooms
• Roasted asparagus and tomatoes
• Roasted asparagus and carrots
• Lemon roasted asparagus
• Roasted broccoli and asparagus
• Roasted salmon and asparagus
• Crispy parmesan asparagus
• Garlic parmesan asparagus oven roasted

There are so many different meals to add asparagus as a side, this recipe sticks out as a holiday side because it has a luxurious and special feel to it.  If you’re wondering what to make with asparagus for dinner, you can try one of the ideas below:

Pasta, chicken cutlets, whole roasted chicken, pot roast or even a steak tenderloin.  There are so many options and variations to try!  

If you have any gourmet asparagus recipes to share, I would love to hear about them in the comments below!

Asparagus health benefits:

This veggie is loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, pre-biotics, and phytochemicals such as anthocyanins and polyphenols.  Lab tested notable amounts of folate, vitamin B’s, vitamin K and vitamin E are found at exceptionally high amounts.  Particular areas of improvement with high consumption are: reproductive health, digestive health, improved eye sight, urinary tract health and increase in testosterone in men.   Regular consumption can help to lower the risk of disease such as cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and liver disease.  

The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Now you know how to make an asparagus dipping sauce with a recipe that you won’t want to forget!

Thanks for checking out this recipe. If you liked this one, you may love some of my other favorite recipes such as whole roasted carrots, air fried avocado with pico de Gallo, healthy taco salad bowl or portobello mushroom salad.

Please rate or comment below and if you made any additions or alterations and want to let me in on your ideas – I would love to hear about it!  If you would like to share or pin on Pinterest, I am always thankful.  Check out my food journey on Pinterest at Molé in the Wall.

I hope you do try this asparagus dipping sauce and thoroughly enjoy it as much as we have.  I’m pretty sure this will become a favorite meal for the whole family and become a generational tradition!