‘Stalk’ Up on These 15 Spring Asparagus Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What's the best way to cook asparagus? ›

Heat a skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Cut 6 to 8 cleaned and trimmed medium asparagus spears into 2-inch lengths. Add olive oil or butter to pan; when hot, add asparagus, season generously with salt and pepper and cook about 3 to 4 minutes, until bright green, shaking or stirring the pan frequently.

Asparagus contains an enzyme that creates a woody compound called "lignin," at the end of each spear. Lignin is not softened by heat, so it remains fibrous and tough after cooking. To eliminate lignin, snap (don't cut) the end of each spear just before cooking.

Cooking asparagus can help boost the activity of the antioxidants in asparagus, but this method can also contribute to nutrient loss, especially with heat-sensitive vitamins like vitamin C. To reap the greatest health benefits, consider incorporating both cooked and raw asparagus into your diet.

It is not necessary to trim asparagus. On some spears, especially fresh, pencil-thin stalks, the woody ends may tenderize once cooked. But on larger stalks, the ends of the asparagus are often woody and dense—Which makes them difficult to chew, no matter how soft the asparagus is after cooking.

The whole asparagus stem is edible to right about where it comes out of the ground. If you try breaking the foot of a stem by bending it (instead of cutting) will break right where the foot becomes too fibrous to be enjoyable. It can be eaten raw as well as cooked and has more nutrients when raw.

Boiling green vegetables in a small amount of water means bathing them in a virtual soup of color destroyers. Add something alkaline, such as baking soda, and the chemical reactions are altered so the chlorophyll turns bright green.

Does asparagus get softer the longer you cook it? Yes, it does. But you don't want to cook it too long or it will be soggy. That's fine when using in a soup, but not so much as a roasted side.

Blanched Asparagus

Chop your spears into 1-inch chunks, discarding any tough, woody ends. Drop the chopped veggies into the boiling water, and blanch them for about 1 minute, until tender but still bright green.

Asparagus develops a rich flavor when roasted, making this one of the most popular ways to eat the vegetable. Wash and trim spears, lightly peel the base of tougher stalks, and pat dry. Place on a baking sheet and mist or drizzle with olive oil, rolling each spear to coat.

Simply pan-fried until tender, and enjoy! How do you cook asparagus so it's not stringy? To prevent asparagus from being stringy, it's important to trim the tough woody parts off of the bottom of the asparagus spears and cook until perfectly tender. If it's overcooked, it can be stringy and soggy.

What is the healthiest way to eat asparagus? ›

Try adding shredded, raw asparagus to pasta dishes and salads. Alternatively, enjoy the spears lightly steamed or sautéed in a frittata, or as a stand-alone side dish. Asparagus is a nutritious choice, regardless of whether it's cooked or raw. Try eating a combination of the two for maximum health benefits.