Serve this robust dish with the skirt steak with cilantro sauce

• 2 1/2 lb medium asparagus, trimmed

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 2 oz feta (preferably French), crumbled (1/2 cup)

Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 500°F.

Toss asparagus with oil, salt, and pepper in a large shallow baking pan and arrange in 1 layer. Roast, shaking pan once about halfway through roasting, until asparagus is just tender when pierced with a fork, 8 to 14 minutes total. Serve asparagus sprinkled with cheese.

Makes 6 servings.