*This Roasted Sesame Asparagus is a delicious Asian-inspired twist on my favorite spring vegetable! The easy preparation features nutty roasted sesame oil and plenty of sesame seeds.*

For my birthday last Thursday Adam made a reservation at a restaurant in our neighborhood that we’ve both been wanting to try and, spoiler alert, it was sooo good! It’s called Liholiho Yacht Club. It opened in the beginning of 2015, and, from what I can tell, it’s been seriously popular ever since! Our reservation was on the later side, but we arrived a bit early so we could enjoy a cocktail before dinner began. At this Hawaiian-inspired spot all of the food and drinks have a tropical or Asian flair, and I chose a rum-based drink made with lime juice and a sweet coconut syrup that was so tasty!

From there, we moved on to the food. On the way to our table we were led past the coolest bright, open kitchen, and it was so fun to see the small army of chefs hard at work plating the most beautiful creations. This definitely piqued our interest and made us even more excited for the upcoming meal! We had a tough time choosing between all of the interesting items on the menu – tuna belly, sashimi, crab, even duck hearts! – and we ended up ordering a wide array of different plates to try. My favorites were the fresh tuna poke, served on a crisp seaweed cracker; the surprisingly tender and flavorful beef tongue, which was nestled in a freshly steamed poppy seed bun; and the grilled octopus paired with crispy fried potatoes, golden raisins, and an herby, green pesto sauce. Man, my mouth is watering just thinking about how delicious everything tasted! Even though we were beyond full, we had to end the meal with their signature dessert – a “baked Hawaii” that combines vanilla cake, pineapple ice cream, and brûléed meringue, which arrived at the table complete with a beautiful birthday sparkler. It was a truly delicious meal – thank you, Adam, for such a special night! 🙂

This roasted sesame asparagus is no where near as elaborate as the incredible dishes at Liholiho, but the strong flavor of sesame that I’ve incorporated here does remind me of that special meal. And this vegetable dish, although simple, is nevertheless completely delicious, so I hope that you’ll try it! Growing up I did not like asparagus at all, but once my mom started roasting it rather than steaming it I began to enjoy the green vegetable more and more. Now it’s one of my favorites, and I always look forward to spring, when it starts appearing at the market! Normally I’ll roast asparagus with the most simple combination of olive oil, salt, pepper, and a little fresh lemon juice added at the end for an unfussy and versatile side dish. This sesame version is almost just as easy, but features a more elevated and interesting flavor profile. I add nutty roasted sesame oil along with the olive oil, and finish the dish with a generous serving of flavorful sesame seeds. This Asian-inspired dish would pair perfectly with roasted salmon or grilled chicken and brown rice for a complete and healthy dinner!