Place the asparagus on a large cutting board and line up the ends with your hands. Use a chef’s knife to cut about 1 to 2 inches off the woody, tough ends so only tender stalks remain.

Rinse the trimmed asparagus under cool running water in the sink, then pat dry thoroughly with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels so the spears roast instead of steaming.

Lay the dry asparagus in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier. Use your hands or tongs to spread them out so they are not stacked on top of each other.

Use a measuring spoon to drizzle 2 tbsp olive oil evenly over the asparagus, then sprinkle 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper over the spears. Toss everything directly on the baking sheet with your hands or tongs until every spear looks lightly coated and glossy.

Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of a preheated 400°F oven, using oven mitts to slide the pan in safely. Roast for about 12 to 15 minutes, until the asparagus stalks are tender when pierced with a fork and the tips are slightly browned and crisp.

Halfway through roasting, use oven mitts to pull the baking sheet out and tongs to flip the asparagus so they brown evenly, then slide the pan back in and finish roasting.

While the asparagus roasts, add the minced garlic, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 tsp lemon zest to a small bowl using measuring spoons for accuracy, and stir with a spoon until combined.

When the asparagus is done, use oven mitts to remove the baking sheet and set it on a heat-safe surface, then immediately spoon the garlic-lemon mixture over the hot spears so the heat softens the garlic.

Use a Microplane or fine grater to sprinkle ¼ cup grated Parmesan evenly over the asparagus, letting it melt slightly on the hot spears, and toss gently with tongs so every stalk picks up some cheese.

Taste one piece using a fork, then add a small pinch of extra salt or a squeeze of more lemon from a wedge if needed, and finish with a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes for a light kick if you like.