private async Task<List<MyObject>> GetBigListAsync()
{
var myTask = Task.Run( () => GetBigList());
// your thread is free to do other useful stuff right nw
DoOtherUsefulStuff();
// after a while you need the result, await for myTask:
List<MyObject> result = await myTask;
// you can now use the results of loading:
ProcessResult(result);
return result;
}