To give familiar vegetables an unexpected flavor, cook them with a few basic seasonings.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Trim tough ends from asparagus.
On a rimmed baking sheet, toss asparagus with olive oil; season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Spread in an even layer. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Roast until asparagus is tender and cheese is melted, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve immediately.