Thyme Marinated Grilled Asparagus

• asparagus↗2 lbs

  tough stems trimmed

• red wine vinegar (or try balsamic!)↗2 tablespoons
• shallots↗2

  chopped (or 1/4 cup scallions)

• garlic cloves↗4

  chopped

• fresh thyme↗1 tablespoon

  chopped

• orange juice concentrate↗1 teaspoon
• whole grain mustard↗1 tablespoon
• olive oil, extra virgin↗1⁄3 cup
• salt and black pepper

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Bring 2 quarts of salted water to a boil in a large stockpot. Add asparagus and cook until it is crisp tender, 3 or 4 minutes, depending on the size. Drain and dip in icy cold water. Set aside.

2. 2

   In a bowl combine vinegar, shallots, garlic, thyme, orange juice concentrate, and mustard. Slowly whisk in the oil to blend well. Season with salt and pepper.

3. 3

   Pour mixture over asparagus. Let marinate while you light the coals or start the grill.

4. 4

   To make the grilling easier, you can place the asparagus on skewers, running a skewer through each end of the spear and fitting about 5 spears on each pair of skewers. Grill the asparagus on each side just to mark it, 1 or 2 minutes per side. Remove from the grill. Serve warm or at room temperature. Or, you can just broil them till they start to brown, 3 to 4 minutes.