Asparagus with Tomatoes and Feta

A few months ago my friend and I took a little road trip to go to a concert.  We stayed with her aunt and uncle, and her aunt was gracious enough to cook a wonderful meal for us when we arrived.  She made a delicious salmon as the entree, but what really wowed me was the asparagus.  It was topped with a mixture of fresh tomatoes and feta, and it was unbelievably delicious.  I mean, this was back in April and I’m still thinking about it now!  So, I finally decided to try recreating it here at home and I’m happy to report that this was every bit as delicious as I remember.  Hands down, my favorite way to prepare asparagus.  Very simple but so delicious, and a great way to use up any extra feta you have in the fridge.  I don’t really know what else to say about this except that it is a spectacular side dish!

Asparagus with Tomatoes and Feta
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Ingredients:
1 bunch asparagus
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 shallot, finely minced
2-3 vine ripened tomatoes, seeded and diced
3 oz. crumbled feta cheese
Salt and pepper

Directions:
In a large skillet, lay the asparagus in a single layer (or as close to a single layer as you can get).  Add water just until the asparagus is covered.  Heat over medium-high heat until the water boils.  Reduce the heat and let simmer until the asparagus is tender.  Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a medium skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat.  Sauté the shallot until tender, 3-4 minutes.  Add the diced tomatoes to the pan and cook 2-3 minutes, just to warm and wilt very slightly.  Once the asparagus is tender, remove from the heat and drain.  Remove the shallot-tomato mixture from the heat, stir in the feta, and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Place the warm asparagus on a serving platter (or individual plates) and top with the tomato-feta mixture.  Serve immediately.

Source: Annie’s Eats original, inspired by Aunt Susan