Smoky Gouda Cheese Sauce over Roasted Asparagus

Ingredients

• 8 ounces fresh asparagus, trimmed
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup half-and-half
• ½ teaspoon dry mustard
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 8 ounces shredded Gouda cheese

Ingredient Image

Step 1

Heat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Spread the asparagus out on a large baking sheet in a single layer, sprinkle with a bit of salt, then drizzle with olive oil and toss everything together so the spears are nicely coated. Pop them in the oven and roast until they’re tender, which should take about 10 minutes.

Step 2

While the asparagus is roasting, melt some butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, stir in the flour and keep whisking until the mixture turns smooth and lightly golden, around 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the half and half, then add the mustard powder and paprika, whisking constantly for another couple of minutes to combine everything well.

Step 3

Stir in the smoked Gouda cheese and keep whisking until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens up, about 5 minutes. When the asparagus is ready, transfer it to a serving dish and generously spoon the warm cheese sauce over the top. Serve right away and enjoy!