01 -
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Wash asparagus with cold water and dry thoroughly with a towel.
02 -
To trim asparagus, snap the end of one spear and use it as a guide to cut remaining asparagus to the same length with a knife. You'll typically remove 1.5-2 inches of the chewy, stringy part.
03 -
Arrange asparagus on a large rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with minced garlic, salt and pepper. Using tongs, toss to coat evenly. Spread asparagus spears in a single layer with minimum touching.
04 -
Bake asparagus for 12 minutes. Asparagus is perfectly done when it turns bright green and is tender but still has a bite to it. If asparagus is hard to chew, it needs more time. If it's mushy, it's overcooked.
05 -
Remove from the oven, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired and serve warm.